title: Hand infections: basic principles and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An untreated hand infection can lead rapidly to tissue destruction and permanent disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the pertinent English literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early diagnosis and timely, effective intervention is crucial to treatment. Anatomically, the hand consists of multiple potential spaces and tissue planes that can become infected with a wide variety of organisms. Thus, a working knowledge of hand anatomy as well as pharmalogical therapies is imperative for successful management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the basic principles of hand care, relevant anatomy, infectious organisms, and clinical signs of an unusually aggressive infection greatly improves treatment efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Marvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spann
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talmor
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents