Skin and soft tissue infections

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) range from relatively common superficial skin infections to rare but life-threatening infections like necrotizing fasciitis or gas gangrene. They can affect all ages and predisposing factors include trauma, pre-existing dermatoses, diabetes mellitus and immune suppression. SSTI are often caused by organisms that colonize the skin, such as Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococci, as a result of a breach in the skin's integrity. Community-acquired meticillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) is becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of SSTI. Less common causes include a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Treatment is usually with topical or systemic antimicrobials, directed against the suspected organism, but urgent surgical debridement is sometimes required.