Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: Diagnosis and Therapy

Abstract

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) can be seen in a variety of clinical features, from mild infection to life-threatening serious necrotizing infections. Etiology of SSTIs vary according to geographical characteristics, patient's immunity, and risk factors. In recent years, complicated SSTIs are more frequent due to increase in the elderly and immunosuppressed patient population. Management of these infections becomes more difficult with the increase of resistant microorganisms. In this review article, SSTIs, both complicated and non-complicated, were classified on the basis of clinical view and patient characteristics, and recent changes related to diagnosis and treatment were reviewed in accordance with the recommendations of international guidelines. In addition, infectious diseases such as anthrax and tularemia were briefly outlined, of which epidemiological studies in Turkey are performed.

Skin Abscess

“…They are painful sores that frequently contain pus. When the inflammation around the hair follicles deepens, a boil develops [15][16][17].…”

“…Warm normal saline compresses (one teaspoon table salt to two cups tap water) used topically, followed by bacitracin or erythromycin ointment and sterile absorbent gauze bandages, are effective treatments for many types of folliculitis. A 7-10 day regimen of oral erythromycin (250-500 mg/day for adults and 30-50 mg/kg/day in evenly divided groups) may be used for moderate S aureus infections [15][16][17] (Figure 2).…”

Innovative Drug Delivery Systems for Infectious Diseases of the Skin

“…An abscess is the condition of pus in the body tissue 11 . In mostly cases S. aureus is responsible for it 14 . In case of accessibility to the affected body part, it can be treated by the means of drainage 11 .…”

“…In case of accessibility to the affected body part, it can be treated by the means of drainage 11 . Cellulite is a disease with an orange peel appearance, which occurs as a result of superficial skin edema surrounding the hair follicles 14 . This disease can affect lymph tissue and blood.…”

“…It is typically caused by group A streptococci, but group C and G streptococci can also cause this disease 11 . Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious picture in which the infection starts with changes such as erythema on the skin surface and extends to the fascia layer 14 . The disease caused by the synergistic association of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria is defined as type I.…”