Skin diseases caused by defined pathogens in different resistance states of the organism.
A distinction is made between:
- Primary infection: initial infection, i.e. the first contact of an organism with a pathogen.
- Secondary infection: transmission of pathogens, which occurs after the initial infection in addition and with other pathogens. The course of such a disease is usually more severe and shows a variety of symptoms.
- Superinfection: A preceding infection (e.g. viral infection) provides the basis for another (e.g. bacterial infection).
- Double infection: Refers to a simultaneous infection with two different pathogens.
Differentiation according to the origin of the pathogens:
- Endogenous infections occur when the immune system is weakened by the body's own, normally completely harmless flora in the form of a pathogen invasion, e.g. on the skin or from the stomach, intestines and lungs into the patient's own body (like a wound infection by one's own coliform bacteria).
- Exogenous infections are caused by infectious agents from the environment.
- Nosocomial infections are acquired in a hospital, doctor's office, or other medical facility.
- Iatrogenic infections are caused by unintentional introduction of pathogens to the staff themselves or to the patient when a physician or other health care professional is performing medical procedures. See also MRSA, ESBL.
- Opportunistic infections are caused by pathogens to which there is natural immunity under normal immune system function