Nonbacterial pus-forming diseases of the skin.

The formation of pus as a result of an inflammatory response to a bacterial infection is well known. Not so well appreciated, however, is the fact that many other nonbacterial agents such as certain fungi, viruses and parasites may provoke pus formation in the skin. Also heat, topical applications, systemically administered drugs and some injected materials can do likewise. Numerous skin diseases of unknown etiology such as pustular acne vulgaris, pustular psoriasis and pustular dermatitis herpetiformis can have bacteriologically sterile pustules. The importance of considering nonbacterial causes of pus-forming conditions of the skin is obvious from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view.