Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Author(s):
Anucha Apisarnthanarak, MD Associate Professor

Division of Infectious Diseases
Thammasat University Hospital
Pratumthani, Thailand

Linda M. Mundy, MD, PhD Director, Worldwide Epidemiology

Research and Development, GlaxoSmithKline
Collegeville, PA

Published:
October 2, 2014

Abstract

Skin and soft tissue infections are common clinical problems that vary in type and severity. Breach of the skin from trauma, surgery, or primary skin disease is often a precursor to microbial penetration through the epidermis with a consequent range in progression from a superficial, self-limited infection to a life-threatening infection. If purulence at the site of infection is accessible for culture, procurement of a diagnostic test specimen will often provide clinically relevant, diagnostic information regarding microbial etiology, drug susceptibility, and potentially effective antibiotic therapy.