title: What is new in the management of skin and soft tissue infections in 2016?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are the most frequent infectious cause of referrals to emergency departments and hospital admissions in developed world, contributing to significant morbidity and healthcare expenditures. We sought to review recent literature covering epidemiology and management of SSTIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence trends of SSTIs were increasing worldwide with Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci predominating and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) posing additional challenges, because of high rates of treatment failure and relapse. Development of new antimicrobials was associated with an appraisal of regulatory definitions and endpoints. Prediction of clinical response can be very tricky, because of variable risk factors for recurrence or treatment failure, depending mostly on the host. Precise indications for new antimicrobials should be established; their integration into clinical practice algorithms may serve reduction of unnecessary admissions, overtreatment and total costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New antimicrobials with activity against MRSA have been recently launched. Long-acting agents, mainly oritavancin and dalbavancin, provide the opportunity of single-dose treatment and early discharge. Further outpatient treatment options include new per os antibiotics such as oxazolidinones. Validated assessment tools are urgently needed to support decision-making toward rational resource utilization and delivery of optimal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Athens National and Kapodistrian University, School of Medicine, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Garyphallia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poulakou
authors.forename: Efthymia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannitsioti
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiodras
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents