A wide variety of disorders affecting the integumentary system are included in the category of skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs), including cellulitis, erysipelas, folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles, and wound infections. Bacterial pathogens, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, are the main culprits behind these infections. But other bacteria, like anaerobes and Gram-negative bacilli, might also be involved, especially in more serious or intricate illnesses.One typical SSSI that is characterized by erythema, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the afflicted skin, frequently with indistinct borders, is cellulitis. Usually, cuts, abrasions, or insect bites allow germs to enter the skin and cause the infection. A unique type of cellulitis called erysipelas affects the lymphatics and superficial dermis. It manifests as well-defined, flaming red plaques and is frequently accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever and malaise.Small, pus-filled papules and pustules are the result of irritated hair follicles, which causes foliculitis. It may be caused by germs that have colonized hair follicles; this condition is frequently made worse by friction, occlusion, or shaving. Folliculitis can appear as furuncles (boils) or carbuncles, which are larger, more painful lesions with nodularity and fluctuance when it spreads to deeper structures. Incision and drainage are frequently necessary for the clearance of these deeper infections.If left untreated, wound infections can exacerbate traumatizing or surgical wounds, impeding their ability to heal and putting them at risk for more serious systemic infections. To avoid these consequences, proper wound care and infection control procedures are crucial.Supportive measures and antibiotic therapy are combined in the management of SSSIs. The suspected pathogens and local resistance patterns should serve as the basis for the empirical antibiotic selection process, which should also take patient comorbidities, infection severity, and risk factors for resistant organisms into account. Oral antibiotics like beta-lactams, macrolides, or fluoroquinolones may be adequate in mild to moderate infections, whereas intravenous antibiotics like vancomycin or daptomycin may be required in severe infections or those with suspected MRSA involvement.Adjunctive therapies can assist reduce symptoms and speed healing. Examples of these therapies include wound care, elevating afflicted limbs, and analgesia. In order to avoid problems and improve patient outcomes, it is imperative that SSSIs be promptly identified and managed.
