Which bacterial disease typically produces ulcers on the skin?

Which bacterial disease typically produces ulcers on the skin?

• A. Leprosy
• B. Lyme disease
• C. Tularemia
• D. Staphylococcal skin infection

Answer: (C)

Ulcers at the site of skin entry are a hallmark feature of tularemia’s ulceroglandular form. This infection, caused by Francisella tularensis, is often acquired through bites from ticks or contact with infected animals, where the bacteria enter through a break in the skin. The result is a localized skin ulcer at the inoculation site, typically with tender regional lymphadenopathy. This presentation helps distinguish it from other listed diseases: leprosy causes chronic skin patches with nerve loss rather than acute skin ulcers; Lyme disease produces an expanding erythema migrans rash rather than an ulcer; staphylococcal skin infections can cause lesions or abscesses but lack the characteristic inoculation-site ulcer with prominent surrounding lymph node involvement seen in tularemia.

Ulcers at the site of skin entry are a hallmark feature of tularemia’s ulceroglandular form. This infection, caused by Francisella tularensis, is often acquired through bites from ticks or contact with infected animals, where the bacteria enter through a break in the skin. The result is a localized skin ulcer at the inoculation site, typically with tender regional lymphadenopathy. This presentation helps distinguish it from other listed diseases: leprosy causes chronic skin patches with nerve loss rather than acute skin ulcers; Lyme disease produces an expanding erythema migrans rash rather than an ulcer; staphylococcal skin infections can cause lesions or abscesses but lack the characteristic inoculation-site ulcer with prominent surrounding lymph node involvement seen in tularemia.