Disease Overview

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) refer to a diverse collection of clinical infections involving the layers of the skin and its associated underlying soft tissues.^1,2
SSTIs can vary widely in presentation and etiology, and range in severity from mild infections, including uncomplicated abscess, to life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis.^1,2

Skin and Skin Structure Infections

SSTIs can vary widely in presentation and etiology, and range in severity from mild infections, including uncomplicated abscess, to life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis.^1,2 The exact presentation of SSTIs varies depending on the type of infection but generally includes redness, edema and/or induration around the site of the infection.^1-4 Current SSTI treatment guidelines further distinguish between non-purulent infections (such as cellulitis) and purulent infections (such as cutaneous abscesses).^1,5

Examples of Non-Purulent and Purulent Infections⁵

SSTI Disease overview purulent infection

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) refers to a subset of common bacterial skin infections, including major cutaneous abscesses, wound infections or cellulitis/erysipelas with a lesion size area of at least 75 cm².^2,3

ABSSSIs Include the Following Diagnoses:³

Cellulitis/Erysipelas	Major Cutaneous Abscess	Wound Infection

Image shows cellulitis of the lower leg. Image courtesy of https://ercare24.com/cellulitis-emergency/	Image shows a major cutaneous abscess on the back of a patient which had been caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Image courtesy of Gregory Moran, M.D., via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.	Image shows a wound which has been highly exuding with maceration to the peri-wound area. Image courtesy of https://www.clinimed.co.uk/wound-care/symptom-management/management-of-exudate-and-infection

Cellulitis/Erysipelas

Major Cutaneous Abscess

Wound Infection

Image shows cellulitis of the lower leg.

Image courtesy of https://ercare24.com/cellulitis-emergency/

Image shows a major cutaneous abscess on the back of a patient which had been caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Image courtesy of Gregory Moran, M.D., via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Image shows a wound which has been highly exuding with maceration to the peri-wound area.

Image courtesy of https://www.clinimed.co.uk/wound-care/symptom-management/management-of-exudate-and-infection

Learn about the symptoms and diagnosis of SSTI

References

Pulido-Cejudo A, Guzmán-Gutierrez M, Jalife-Montaño A, et al. Management of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections with a focus on patients at high risk of treatment failure. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2017;4(5):143–161.
Tognetti L, Martinelli C, Berti S, et al. Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections: review of the epidemiology, microbiology, aetiopathogenesis and treatment: a collaboration between dermatologists and infectivologists. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012;26(8):931–941.
FDA. Guidance for Industry Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: Developing Drugs for Treatment. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/71052/download (accessed October 15 2020).
Ramakrishnan K, Salinas RC, Agudelo Higuita NI. Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(6):474–483.
Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(2):–159.