Skin Lesion Testing

Case Study: Skin Lesion
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Case Study: Skin Lesion
The testing that should be done for the 23-year-old woman would include culture and sensitivity of the lesion to determine the specific pathogen causing the infection and to guide treatment. This would involve obtaining a sample of the fluid or pus from the lesion and sending it to the laboratory for analysis. The culture will grow any bacteria present in the sample, and the sensitivity test will determine which antibiotics are effective against the bacteria (Disabled World, 2022). Additional testing like PCR tests can also be done to identify the pathogen quickly. A blood culture may also be done if there is a concern for systemic infection.
It is essential to consider possible differentials such as spider bite, boil, staphylococcal infections, Cellulitis, and folliculitis. Some spider bites can cause a red, swollen, and painful lesion that may become necrotic or develop a blister but it is unusual for a spider bite to worsen over several days and to begin draining (Disabled World, 2022). A boil, or furuncle, is a bacterial infection of a hair follicle that results in a red, swollen, and tender lesion that may eventually rupture and drain pus. A staphylococcal infection can present as a red, swollen, and painful lesion that may become necrotic or develop a blister. Cellulitis is a deep bacterial skin infection that presents as a red, swollen, and tender area warm to the touch. Folliculitis is a hair follicle infection that causes red, swollen, and itchy bumps around hair follicles.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus that has developed resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, including methicillin, penicillin, and other beta-lactam antibiotics (Vestergaard, Frees, & Ingmer, 2019). MRSA infections are often similar in appearance to other types of staphylococcal infections but are more severe and invasive.
The choice of antibiotic, dosages, and duration of treatment will depend on the case, the patient's overall health, the location and severity of the infection, and the susceptibility of the MRSA strain to antibiotics. In this case, vancomycin and daptomycin should be used (Brown et al., 2021). The treatment decisions are based on the most recent clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based medicine. To thi...