Bacterial skin infections can be classified as skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).
SSTI include
ABSSSI are complex bacterial skin infections. They include
Major cutaneous abscesses (> 75 cm2 including edema, erythema, and induration)
Wound infections
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, scarlet fever, and toxic shock syndrome are skin-related consequences of bacterial infections.
The primary pathogens in SSTI are Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a common pathogen in the United States. However, the proportion of cases attributed to MRSA differs substantially elsewhere in the world. Because MRSA can be resistant to multiple antibiotics, recommended antibiotics for bacterial skin and soft-tissue infections depend largely on local prevalence and resistance patterns of MRSA.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) 2014 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections
More Information
The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
Infectious Diseases Society of America: Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections (2014)
World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and the Surgical Infection Society Europe (SIS-E) consensus conference: Recommendations for the management of skin and soft-tissue infections (2018)
