Final answer:
S. aureus causes four key pyodermic contagious infections: Impetigo, Folliculitis, Cellulitis, and Erysipelas, each with distinct characteristics and caused when bacteria invade the skin. Community-acquired and hospital-acquired S. aureus infections are particularly problematic due to their resistance to antibiotics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is frequently associated with various purulent skin infections. Amongst the different skin conditions caused by S. aureus, four of the pyodermic contagious infections are:
- Impetigo, which is highly contagious, especially among children, and can be caused by S. aureus alone, or in co-infection with Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes).
- Folliculitis, which is the inflammation of hair follicles, often presenting as small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles.
- Cellulitis, characterized by a painful, red rash that indicates an infection of the dermis and hypodermis layers of the skin.
- Erysipelas, which is an intense inflammation of the dermis presenting as a raised rash with clear borders, often caused by S. pyogenes.
These conditions are caused when bacteria breach the skin barrier, often through cuts or abrasions. Community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections pose significant challenges partly due to the drug resistance of current S. aureus strains.