Skin and soft tissue infections

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SSTI Basics - The Layer Cake

Skin infection depth and etiology

  • Concept: Infections classified by the anatomical layer they occupy, from superficial to deep. Deeper infections are more severe.

Necrotizing Fasciitis: A surgical emergency. Suspect when a patient presents with signs of cellulitis but has excruciating pain disproportionate to the physical exam findings. Crepitus from subcutaneous gas is a late, ominous sign.

Necrotizing Infections - A True Emergency

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Treatment Strategy - The Right Tools

  • Core Principle: Differentiate purulent vs. non-purulent infections to guide therapy.
  • Incision & Drainage (I&D): Cornerstone for purulent infections (abscesses, furuncles).
    • Send wound cultures if available, especially in treatment failure or severe cases.
  • Severe / Necrotizing Fasciitis: Surgical emergency!
    • Requires immediate surgical debridement.
    • Broad-spectrum antibiotics: Vancomycin/Linezolid + Piperacillin-Tazobactam OR a Carbapenem.

Exam Favorite: A patient history of a "spider bite" that worsens is a classic clinical vignette for community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA).

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Erysipelas features sharply-demarcated, raised erythema, almost always from Strep. pyogenes.
  • Cellulitis has indistinct borders and involves deeper dermis, caused by S. aureus or Strep. pyogenes.
  • Necrotizing fasciitis is a surgical emergency signaled by pain out of proportion to exam and crepitus.
  • An abscess requires incision and drainage; always consider MRSA as a likely pathogen.
  • Diabetic foot infections are typically polymicrobial, requiring broad-spectrum antibiotics and debridement.

Practice Questions: Skin and soft tissue infections

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 7-year-old girl is brought to the pediatrician by her parents for red papules over her left thigh and swelling in the right axilla for the past few days. Her parents say that she had a cat bite on her left thigh 2 weeks ago. Her temperature is 38.6°C (101.4°F), pulse is 90/min, and respirations are 22/min. On her physical examination, hepatosplenomegaly is present with a healing area of erythema on her left thigh. Her laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 12.9 gm/dL Leukocyte count 9,300/mm3 Platelet count 167,000/mm3 ESR 12 mm/hr Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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Flashcards: Skin and soft tissue infections

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Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis that involves most organs, except the _____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis that involves most organs, except the _____

lungs

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