The role of surgery in the management of uncommon skin infections.
BACKGROUND
Some infections do not respond readily to antibiotic therapy. In particular, fungi and mycobacteria often require prolonged treatment, which is expensive and prone to adverse effects.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of surgery in the treatment of skin infections.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Infections caused by atypical mycobacteria, certain fungi, and those involving joints often respond well to surgical treatments. In several situations excision produces a higher cure rate than antibiotic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Excision, drainage, or debridement has been shown to be superior to drug therapy in several infections and a reasonable alternative in others.
Glorioso
L
L
Department of Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA.
Webster
G F
GF
D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000601:surgery; D002862:Chromoblastomycosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000601:surgery; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000601:surgery; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000601:surgery; D011525:Prototheca; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000601:surgery*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000601:surgery; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000601:surgery