Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2026 Apr 1;39(2):122-127.
doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000001164. Epub 2025 Nov 27.

Recent advances in the management of skin and soft tissue infections

Asimina Valsamaki  1 , Konstantinos Mantzarlis  1 , George Dimopoulos  2
Affiliations

Recent advances in the management of skin and soft tissue infections

Asimina Valsamaki et al. Curr Opin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are one of the most frequent infections that need management either in outpatient setting or as inpatient. The present review of the literature will present recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of SSTIs.

Recent findings: Regarding SSTIs diagnosis, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), PCR, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, along with the usage of novel biomarkers, such as procalcitonin, can help in the accurate and timely diagnosis of SSTIs in a cost-effective manner. Artificial intelligence applications may be the next step in the field. In terms of treatment, the use of newly approved antibiotics, such as oritavalcin and dalbavancin, in combination with innovative methods of their delivery based on nanotechnology applications, can offer targeted and localized action, minimizing the antibiotics' microbial inhibition concentration.

Summary: Even if SSTIs remain a difficult condition to treat, causing significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden on healthcare systems, ongoing scientific research is attempting to improve both diagnostic methods and treatment. More developments are expected in the near future in the areas of innovative diagnostic techniques, innovative drugs, nanotechnology applications, and antigen-based therapies.

Keywords: diagnosis; soft tissue infections; treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Vella V, Derreumaux D, Aris E, et al. The incidence of skin and soft tissue infections in the United States and associated healthcare utilization between 2010 and 2020. OpenForumInfectDis 2024; 11:ofae267.
    1. Lautz TB, Raval MV, Barsness KA. Increasing national burden of hospitalizations for skin and soft tissue infections in children. J PediatrSurg 2011; 46:1935–1941.
    1. Nicolini G, Frasca Polara V, Calvi M, et al. When infection hurts: golden rules for managing pediatric skin and soft tissue infections. Ital J Pediatr 2025; 51:194.
    1. Pontali E, Baiardi G, Del Puente F, Mattioli F. Long-acting antibiotics: new opportunities beyond acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). Antibiotics (Basel) 2025; 14:164.
    1. Toschi A, Giannella M, Viale P. Recurrence of skin and soft tissue infections: identifying risk factors and treatment strategies. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2025; 38:71–77.

LinkOut - more resources