Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Summary
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a spectrum of conditions from superficial impetigo and cellulitis to deep or necrotising infections of fascia and muscle. The most frequent pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), β-haemolytic streptococci and, in certain settings, Gram-negative bacilli. Management begins with precise assessment of clinical severity, host risk factors and anatomical extent, guiding decisions on outpatient versus inpatient care. Purulent SSTIs require prompt incision and drainage, whereas non-purulent presentations often respond to systemic antibiotics targeted at likely organisms. Empirical regimens are selected on local resistance patterns and refined by culture results. Adjunctive measures include wound care, debridement of devitalised tissue and optimisation of comorbidities such as diabetes. Emerging diagnostic tools, including molecular assays and point-of-care inflammatory biomarkers, aim to accelerate pathogen identification and tailor therapy. Integration of antibiotic stewardship principles, outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy and multidisciplinary collaboration among clinicians, microbiologists and surgeons has improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Recent advances in drug delivery, immunomodulation and infection prevention also hold promise to mitigate the global burden of SSTIs.
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Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in management of skin and soft tissue infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
SSTI: Skin and soft tissue infection involving microbial invasion of the epidermis, dermis or underlying structures.
MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial strain resistant to most β-lactam antibiotics.
Biofilm: Structured community of microorganisms encased in extracellular matrix, conferring protection against antimicrobials.
Nanoemulsion-based hydrogel: Nanoscale oil-in-water droplets incorporated into a gel matrix to improve topical delivery of active agents.
Antibiotic stewardship: Coordinated strategies to optimise antimicrobial use, minimise resistance and improve patient outcomes.
References
- Protium spruceanum Extract Enhances Mupirocin Activity When Combined with Nanoemulsion-Based Hydrogel: A Multi-Target Strategy for Treating Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. Pharmaceutics (2024).
- Clinical Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. Antibiotics (2023).
- Skin Infections and Antibiotic Stewardship: Analysis of Emergency Department Prescribing Practices, 2007-2010. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (2014).
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