title: Skin and soft tissue infections.
abstract: Skin and soft tissue infections are a common cause of hospitalization and use of antibiotic therapy, and may result in significant disability. Infections managed by surgeons may vary from simple, noncomplicated cellulitis to severe necrotizing soft tissue infections. The differentiation of necrotizing infections from nonnecrotizing infections is critical to achieving adequate surgical therapy. An understanding of the changing epidemiology of all complicated skin and soft tissue infections is required for selection of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. addison.may@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Addison K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009336:Necrosis; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents