carbuncular

car·bun·cle

C0104000 (kär′bŭng′kəl)n.1. A painful localized bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that usually has several openings through which pus is discharged.2. a. A red precious stone, especially a deep-red garnet cut as a cabochon.b. A mythical gemstone said to emit light even in total darkness.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin carbunculus, small glowing ember, carbuncle, diminutive of carbō, carbōn-, coal; see ker- in Indo-European roots.]

car′bun′cled adj.car·bun′cu·lar (-kyə-lər) adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.

carbuncular - afflicted with or resembling a carbunclecarbuncledunhealthy - not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind; "unhealthy ulcers"

carbuncular

car·bun·cu·lar

(kahr-bŭng'kyū-lăr) Relating to a carbuncle.

carbuncle

, carbunculus (kar'bung?k'l) (kar-bung'ku-lus) [L. carbunculus, small glowing ember] A painful, deep abscess of the skin involving multiple hair follicles, formed by the merger of two or more boils (furuncles) and draining through multiple follicular openings. carbuncular (-bung'ku-lar), adjective See: boil

Etiology

Staphylococci, including methicillin–resistant staph, are the usual cause. They may be introduced into the skin by chafing, pressure, shaving, or by pits or cracks that result from dermatitis and commonly occur on the neck, face, axillae or buttocks.

Symptoms

The lesions are often tender, red, warm, and swollen, enlarge over a period of days, then may rupture, exuding pus and necrotic material.

Treatment

Warm compresses, incision and drainage, and topical, and/or systemic antibiotics (sulfa drugs, cephalosporins, or clindamycin are usually effective). Recurrence is an indication that the patient should be assessed for some underlying disease or immunodeficiency.

Patient care

Patients and caregivers are taught proper hand and skin hygiene and to change the dressings at least twice a day to remove infected material, and to prevent the spread of infection in the home by avoiding contact with wound drainage, disposing of dressings in sealed bags, and washing contaminated linens separately in very hot water.

carbuncular

car·bun·cle

carbuncular

car·bun·cu·lar

carbuncle

Etiology

Symptoms

Treatment

Patient care

carbuncular

Synonyms for carbuncular

adj afflicted with or resembling a carbuncle

Synonyms

Related Words