Bacterial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Older Adults

• Published in: Clinics in geriatric medicine Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 443 - 459
• Main Author: Compton, Gregory A., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Bacterial Infections - etiology; Cellulitis; Diagnosis, Differential; Epidermis; Fasciitis; Female; General Nursing; Geriatrics; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pressure ulcer; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - diagnosis; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - drug therapy; Skin Diseases, Bacterial - microbiology; Skin infection; Soft tissue; Soft Tissue Infections - diagnosis; Soft Tissue Infections - drug therapy; Soft Tissue Infections - microbiology; Surgical site; Wound Infection - diagnosis; Wound Infection - drug therapy; Wound Infection - etiology; Pressure ulcer; Aging; Epidermis; Soft tissue; Cellulitis; Skin infection; Surgical site; Fasciitis
• ISSN: 0749-0690; 1879-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2013.01.002

This article focuses on the clinical manifestations of the more common geriatric skin and soft tissue infections caused by direct invasion of the skin by bacteria. The approach will enable the clinician to create a differential diagnosis to choose the proper empiric therapy. Less common conditions will be mentioned in passing principally as part of a differential. Fungal and viral skin infections are covered in other articles in this edition.