title: Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections in older adults.
abstract: This article focuses on the clinical manifestations of the more common geriatric skin and soft tissue infections caused by direct invasion of the skin by bacteria. The approach will enable the clinician to create a differential diagnosis to choose the proper empiric therapy. Less common conditions will be mentioned in passing principally as part of a differential. Fungal and viral skin infections are covered in other articles in this edition.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Hospitalist, Colleton Medical Center, Walterboro, SC, USA. gacompton@comcast.net
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Compton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents