Body Part: Skin and soft tissue

Infection: A cut/graze allows bacteria growing on our skin to get into deeper layers, and cause infection. Can sometimes be superficial infections, but in severe cases can lead to necrotising fasciitis (‘eating of the skin’).

Symptoms: Non-severe infections = itchy, red skin, inflammation, some pain. Necrotising fasciitis = Severe pain, high temperature, swelling, vomiting, dark blotches under skin that then turn to blisters.

Bacteria:

• Staphylococcus aureus (Staff-ill-oh-cock-us or-ree-us)

• Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep-toe-cock-us pie-or-jen-ease)