Complicated and deep bacterial skin and soft tissue infections

Abstract

Complicated erysipelas, cellulitis, and necrotizing soft tissue infections belong to the spectrum of bacterial infections affecting the skin and underlying soft tissues. Their frequency as well as risk of recurrence and complicated disease course pose a significant health burden. The latter is further impacted by global travel activity, associated variations in the prevalence of microbes, the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria, demographically driven aging with an increase in critical comorbidities, immunosuppressive therapies, and excessive (including non-medical) use of antibiotics.

Against this background, early and accurate diagnosis and promptly initiated therapeutic measures are major determinants in prognosis and clinical outcome. Diagnostic evaluation involves clinical, laboratory, microbiological, and radiographic findings, which are assessed in the context of patient-specific risk factors and comorbidities. First and foremost, given the indication, exploratory incisions of lesional tissue should be performed, allowing rapid assessment of the extent of tissue necrosis and providing guidance on the scope and extent of further (surgical and non-surgical) treatment modalities. Thus, delayed or inadequate interventions can be avoided, which reduces the duration of treatment, health expenses, the risk of recurrent hospitalizations, and mortality rates.