title: Microbiology and management of soft tissue and muscle infections.
abstract: This review summarizes the microbiological aspects and management of soft tissue and muscle infections. The infections presented are: impetigo, folliculitis, furunculosis and carbuncles, cellulitis, erysipelas, infectious gangrene (includes necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal gangrene, gas gangrene or clostridium myonecrosis, anaerobic cellulites, progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, synergistic necrotizing cellulitis or perineal phlegmon, gangrenous balanitis, and gangrenous cellulitis in the immunocompromised patient), secondary bacterial infections complication skin lesions, diabetic and other chronic superficial skin ulcers and subcutaneous abscesses and myositis. These infections often occur in body sites or in those that have been compromised or injured by foreign body, trauma, ischemia, malignancy or surgery. In addition to Group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus, the indigenous aerobic and anaerobic cutaneous and mucous membranes local microflora usually is responsible for polymicrobial infections. These infections may occasionally lead to serious potentially life-threatening local and systemic complications. The infections can progress rapidly and early recognition and proper medical and surgical management is the cornerstone of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University, Schools of Medicine, 4431 Albemarle st NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA. ib6@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents