Fungal Infections!?!?

[lccougar02]

Hey everyone,

My patient the other day had a fungal infection under her breast and her paralyzed right arm. What causes them? I am suppose to teach her family about the fungal infection and what to do to treat and prevent. Any ideas??

~Jackie

[babynursewannab]

Usually, it can be traced to something as simple as sweating and not cleaning well or not drying off well enough after bathing/showering. Fungus (yeast) LOVES dark, wet, warm environments. That's why crotches, under large breasts and inside fat folds are target areas for attack. It's really nothing more that the normal yeast on our body gone awry because nothing (us) kept it in check.

Obviously, there are occasional variations from this main scenario...abx treatment can promote increased yeast proliferation....there are compromised immune system issues, etc...

Hope this helps,

Alyssa

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

As what the other poster mention...not cleaning well is definitely a huge factor. I see it all the time..... She needs to make sure that cream is applied as ordered....and after TX.....Clean daily and kept dry. Otherwise, it'll come back.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

These are often candida infections and are due to the skin to skin contact, sweating and not keeping the area clean. Candida loves warm, moist growing areas. This is a common problem in older women with pendulous breasts and obese women as they get older. These infections can occur whenever there is a skin fold and skin on skin contact, so the fold of the belly near the groin and where the legs meet the torso, underarms and the butt crack are prime areas for this to occur. Left uncared for the skin becomes very red and will weep a pale, clear serous fluid causing the skin to becoming very sore. While a doctor might prescribe a cream or ointment for this, it can be cleared up by simply washing the area at least daily with a mild soap (no aggressive rubbing of the skin while it is red and raw!), and patting it dry. I often then take clean, dry washcloths folded in half and place them under the boobs to keep the two skin areas from touching. The terricloth of the washcloths is a very good absorbant of any sweat. This has to be attended to at least daily. If this is done, open, raw skin will show significant improvement within a day or two although it will take up to a week or so for complete resolution. These skin areas then need to be protected otherwise the irritation and infection will occur again and again. The washcloths can also be placed under the abdominal skin folds and underarms as well. For ambulatory patients it is hard to keep washcloths under their underarms, so a fine film of talcum powder or corn startch works very well. Lately, Johnson and Johnson has come out with Vanilla/Jasmine and Lavender/Chamomile baby powder whose primary ingredient is corn starch which work very nicely as they wash off very easily with water and are cheap compared to the designer talcs you can buy in a department store. It is important that you don't use powders while the skin is still open and weeping or you will get a caked up mess that creates a worse problem.

[rn in 3 years]

While a doctor might prescribe a cream or ointment for this, it can be cleared up by simply washing the area at least daily with a mild soap (no aggressive rubbing of the skin while it is red and raw!), and patting it dry.

I have large breasts. In fact, I only take my bra off to shower. I sllep in a bra even. Last summer (it gets very HOT here) I had a HORRIBLE yeast infection under my breasts. I can assure you that it was NOT from not cleaning because I shower every day plus I put on a new bra everyday. It must have been caused by sweat. I tried keeping the area dry by placing cloth in between my skin and bra and changing that out several times daily and it only spread. I had to go on a double dose of oral medication as well as a cream and an over the counter spray (like for athlete's foot). It took a full month to clear up.

[MrsMinor]

ABD pads or even telfa pads work well too--like to use right along with Nystatin powder.

[Nikki69]

ABD pads or even telfa pads work well too--like to use right along with Nystatin powder.

That Nystatin powder works wonders doesn't it!!

[Kimmi73]

Posted by Rn in 3 years

I have large breasts. In fact, I only take my bra off to shower. I sllep in a bra even. Last summer (it gets very HOT here) I had a HORRIBLE yeast infection under my breasts. I can assure you that it was NOT from not cleaning because I shower every day plus I put on a new bra everyday. It must have been caused by sweat. I tried keeping the area dry by placing cloth in between my skin and bra and changing that out several times daily and it only spread. I had to go on a double dose of oral medication as well as a cream and an over the counter spray (like for athlete's foot). It took a full month to clear up.

Do you also have pain in your back, neck, or shoulders? Just curious if you ever thought of a mammoplasty (breast reduction surgery)? I had one and it was the best thing I ever did. If you ever want to chat just let me know. :)

[rn in 3 years]

Posted by Rn in 3 years

Do you also have pain in your back, neck, or shoulders? Just curious if you ever thought of a mammoplasty (breast reduction surgery)? I had one and it was the best thing I ever did. If you ever want to chat just let me know. :)

I would never consider that. I paid good money for these breasts...LOL