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Review
. 2021 Mar;35(1):1-48.
doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2020.10.011.

Approach to the Patient with a Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

Richard R Watkins  1 , Michael Z David  2
Affiliations
Review

Approach to the Patient with a Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

Richard R Watkins et al. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

The diagnosis of a skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) requires careful attention to a patient's history, physical examination, and diagnostic test results. We review for many bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens that cause SSTIs the clues for reaching a diagnosis, including reported past medical history, hobbies and behaviors, travel, insect bites, exposure to other people and to animals, environmental exposures to water, soil, or sand, as well as the anatomic site of skin lesions, their morphology on examination, and their evolution over time. Laboratory and radiographic tests are discussed that may be used to confirm a specific diagnosis.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Differential diagnosis; Environmental exposures; Laboratory testing; Skin and soft tissue infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure M.Z. David has served as a consultant to GSK and to Baxter. R.R. Watkins has served on the speakers’ bureau and received grant support from Allergan.