title: Acute hand infections.
abstract: The continued emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the development of only a few new classes of antibiotics over the past 50 years have made the treatment of acute hand infections problematic. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important, because hand stiffness, contractures, and even amputation can result from missed diagnoses or delayed treatment. The most common site of hand infections is subcutaneous tissue and the most common mechanism is trauma. An immunocompromised state, intravenous drug abuse, diabetes mellitus, and steroid use all predispose to infections.
authors: Mary S. Stern Hand Fellow, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: sternpj@ucmail.uc.edu.
authors: Meredith
authors: M
authors: Osterman
authors: Mary S. Stern Hand Fellow, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Reid
authors: R
authors: Draeger
authors: Mary S. Stern Hand Fellow, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Stern
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D010304:Paronychia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Flexor tenosynovitis; MRSA; infection; necrotizing fasciitis osteomyelitis