Global clinical pathways for skin and soft tissue infections, from mild to life-threatening

What is it about?

Skin and soft tissue infections range from simple superficial infections such as cellulitis and abscesses to severe, rapidly spreading necrotizing infections that can kill within hours. Five international surgical and infection societies - the World Society of Emergency Surgery, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery, the Surgical Infection Society-Europe, the World Surgical Infection Society and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma - joined forces to produce a common document. An international task force of surgeons, infectious diseases specialists, microbiologists and other experts reviewed the evidence and described practical clinical pathways: how to classify and diagnose these infections, when imaging and surgery are needed, how to choose antibiotics, including against resistant bacteria such as MRSA, and how to recognize and urgently treat necrotizing infections.

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Photo by Fleur Kaan on Unsplash

Photo by Fleur Kaan on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Management of skin and soft tissue infections varies widely around the world. These multi-society pathways promote global standards of care, helping clinicians in different settings to recognize severe cases early, combine timely surgery with appropriate antibiotics, and avoid overuse of broad-spectrum drugs in mild infections.

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