Severe Soft Tissue Infections

Overview

Soft tissue infections are serious because the doctor of first contact must unequivocallydifferentiate infections not serious from the prognostic aspect from life threatening infections.Although the prevalence of severe infections is slightly increasing lately, the GP does notencounter them too often. The authors submit contemporary view on the classification of theseinfections for the benefit of GPs. Special emphasis is laid on the necessity of early differentiationof localised infections from progressing infections with necrosis. Spreading infections withtissue necrosis call for an urgent surgical operation with radical excision of necroses, adminis-tration of broad spectrum antibiotics and symptomatic treatment of developing toxic shock.

Key words:
soft tissue infection - necrotizing fasciitis - gangrene.