Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections

Abstract

Bacterial skin infections are common presentations to both general practice and the emergency department. The optimal treatment for purulent infections such as boils and carbuncles is incision and drainage. Antibiotic therapy is not usually required. Most uncomplicated bacterial skin infections that require antibiotics need 5–10 days of treatment. There is a high prevalence of purulent skin infections caused by community-acquired (non-multiresistant) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is therefore important to provide adequate antimicrobial coverage for these infections in empiric antibiotic regimens.