Superficial soft-tissue infections – furuncle, carbuncle, suppurative hydradenitis. Tetanus and gas gangrene – signs, treatment, and vaccination
1. Big picture
This topic is really two surgical infection problems in one:
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Common superficial purulent infections Furuncle, carbuncle, and suppurative hidradenitis are usually localized skin/subcutaneous infections. The surgical rule is: pus must be drained — antibiotics alone do not empty an abscess.
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Life-threatening clostridial infections Tetanus is a toxin-mediated neuromuscular emergency. Gas gangrene / clostridial myonecrosis is a rapidly fatal necrotizing soft-tissue infection requiring immediate surgery + intensive care + antibiotics.
The examiner usually wants you to know: recognize pus → drain it; recognize necrotizing infection → operate urgently; recognize tetanus risk → vaccinate and give tetanus immunoglobulin when indicated.
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