Systemic abnormalities and the intracellular site of infections of the stratum corneum.

In superficial infections, microbiologic studies have helped to more clearly define some of the causative agents and clinical investigations have demonstrated the association of systemic abnormalities. Ultrastructural studies of the host-parasite relationship have revealed the intracellular nature of the disease process. The presence of microorganisms within host cells suggests (1) epithelial tissues may lack an adequate immunologic mechanism to account for their inability to combat the invasion; and (2) no systemic antimicrobial treatment would be completely successful unless the organisms are effectively attacked at the intracellular level.