Raza Aly - Cutaneous Infection and Therapy (Basic and Clinical Dermatology Series)

Cover

Page a

Cutaneous
Infection
and
Therapy

Page b

BASIC AND CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY

Series Editors

ALAN R. SHALITA, M.D.

Professor and Chairman

Department of Dermatology

State University of New York

Health Science Center at Brooklyn

Brooklyn, New York

DAVID A. NORRIS, M.D.

Director of Research

Professor of Dermatology

The University of Colorado

Health Sciences Center

Denver, Colorado

1. Cutaneous Investigation in Health and Disease: NoninvasiveMethods and Instrumentation, edited by Jean-Luc Lvque

2. Irritant Contact Dermatitis, edited by Edward M. Jackson andRonald Goldner

3. Fundamentals of Dermatology: A Study Guide, Franklin S. Glickmanand Alan R. Shalita

4. Aging Skin: Properties and Functional Changes, edited by Jean-LucLvque and Pierre G. Agache

5. Retinoids: Progress in Research and Clinical Applications, edited byMaria A. Livrea and Lester Packer

6. Clinical Photomedicine, edited by Henry W. Lim and Nicholas A.Soter

7. Cutaneous Antifungal Agents: Selected Compounds in Clinical Practice and Development, edited by John W. Rippon and Robert A.Fromtling

8. Oxidative Stress in Dermatology, edited by Jrgen Fuchs and LesterPacker

9. Connective Tissue Diseases of the Skin, edited by Charles M.Lapire and Thomas Krieg

10. Epidermal Growth Factors and Cytokines, edited by Thomas A.Luger and Thomas Schwarz

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11. Skin Changes and Diseases in Pregnancy, edited by MarwaliHarahap and Robert C. Wallach

12. Fungal Disease: Biology, Immunology, and Diagnosis, edited by PaulH. Jacobs and Lexie Nall

13. Immunomodulatory and Cytotoxic Agents in Dermatology, edited byCharles J. McDonald

14. Cutaneous Infection and Therapy, edited by Raza Aly, Karl R.Beutner, and Howard Maibach

ADDITIONAL VOLUMES IN PREPARATION

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Page i

edited by

Raza Aly

Karl R. Beutner

Howard Maibach

University of California School of Medicine

San Francisco, California

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cutaneous infection and therapy / edited by Raza Aly, Karl R. Beutner,Howard Maibach.

p. cm. (Basic and clinical dermatology ; 14)

Includes index.

ISBN 0-8247-9826-0 (hardcover : alk. paper)

1. SkinInfections. 2. Anti-infective agents. I. Aly, Raza.II. Beutner, Karl R. III. Maibach, Howard I. IV. Series.

[DNLM: 1. Skin Diseases, Infectioustherapy. 2. Skin Diseases,Infectiousdiagnosis. W1 CL69L v.14 1997 / WR 220 C988 1997]

RL201.C88 1997

616.5DC21

DNLM/DLC

for Library of Congress

97-5560

CIP

The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in bulk quantities.For more information, write to Special Sales/Professional Marketing at theaddress below.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright 1997 by MARCEL DEKKER, INC. All Rights Reserved.

Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher.

MARCEL DEKKER, INC.
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http://www.dekker.com

Current printing (last digit):
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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During the past decade there has been a vast explosion in new information relating to the art and science of dermatology as well asfundamental cutaneous biology. Furthermore, this information is nolonger of interest only to the small but growing specialty of dermatology.Scientists from a wide variety of disciplines have come to recognize boththe importance of skin in fundamental biological processes and the broadimplications of understanding the pathogenesis of skin disease. As aresult there is now a multidisciplinary and worldwide interest in theprogress of dermatology.

With these factors in mind, we have undertaken a series of booksspecifically oriented to dermatology. The series has been purposelybroad in focus and has ranged from pure basic science to practical,applied clinical dermatology. Thus, while there is something for everyone, all editions in the series should ultimately prove to be valuableadditions to the dermatologist's library.

The latest addition to the series by Raza Aly, Karl R. Beutner, andHoward Maibach is both timely and pertinent. The authors are wellknown authorities in the fields of cutaneous microbiology and clinicalskin infections. We trust that this volume will be of broad interest toscientists and clinicians alike.

Alan R. Shalita
SUNY Health Science Center
Brooklyn, New York

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Cutaneous Infection and Therapy reviews the latest developments in the fieldand summarizes current knowledge, hypotheses, and opinions. The mostrecent advances in treating cutaneous fungal, bacterial, and viral infections are examined. Cutaneous infections are among the most commonafflictions in humans. Emphasis is on the clinical perspective rather thanlaboratory microbiology, although enough of the latter is included to placethe clinical aspect in proper context. This volume is a source of information for dermatologists, as well as for clinicians and clinical scientists withinterests in cutaneous infections.

The skin, being our exposed or external organ, is readily accessible to avast number of microbial organisms. We are exposed to these organismson a nearly continuous basis during many of our normal daily activities.While the skin and our natural host and immunological defenses are welladapted to protecting us from this onslaught, skin infections remain amajor cause of human morbidity. Virtually everyone will have one ormore cutaneous infections, at least episodically. One might wonder whyeveryone is not continuously afflicted with multiple infections. Given therate of exposure versus the number of symptomatic individuals, onewould say we are doing quite well.