title: Occupational hand infections.
abstract: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of hand and upper extremity infections is imperative because they have the potential to be life threatening and pose a risk of functional impairment. Serious infections may result in prolonged hospitalization and resultant loss of productivity. The mainstay of treatment continues to be antibiotic therapy, heat, elevation, adequate surgical drainage, and débridement. Prompt specialty consultation should be obtained in cases in which there is a doubt about the diagnosis or when there is failure to improve in the face of seemingly appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 529 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. earl.gaar@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Earl
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaar
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016272:Occupational Health; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010304:Paronychia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013492:Suppuration; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents