title: Cutaneous bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in infants and children.
abstract: Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children. The medical burden of SSSIs, particularly abscesses, has increased nationwide since the emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. SSSIs represent a wide spectrum of disease severity. Prompt recognition, timely institution of appropriate therapy, and judicious antimicrobial use optimize patient outcomes. For abscesses, incision and drainage are paramount and might avoid the need for antibiotic treatment in uncomplicated cases. If indicated, empiric antimicrobial therapy should target Streptococcus pyogenes for nonpurulent SSSIs, such as uncomplicated cellulitis, and S aureus for purulent SSSIs such as abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4318, USA.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larru
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4318, USA. Electronic address: gerberj@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Abscess; Cellulitis; MRSA; Skin and soft tissue infection; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pyogenes