Gram-Negative Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2021 Mar;35(1):157-167. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2020.10.008. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Abstract

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) frequently are encountered in clinical practice, and gram-negative bacilli (GNB) constitute an underrated portion of their etiology. The rate of GNB-causing SSTIs is increasing, especially with the rise in antimicrobial resistance. Although the diagnosis of SSTIs mostly is clinical, rapid diagnostic modalities can shorten the time to initiating proper therapy and improving outcomes. Novel antibiotics are active against GNB SSTIs and can be of great value in the management. This review provides an overview of the role of GNB in SSTIs and summarizes their epidemiology, risk factors, outcome, and clinical management.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Gram-negative; Skin and soft tissue infections; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / diagnosis
  • Soft Tissue Infections / drug therapy*
  • Soft Tissue Infections / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents