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Infectious Disease in the Aging pp 219–227Cite as

Skin and Soft Tissues Infections

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Abstract

The aging skin and the concept of “skin failure” is discussed.

Diagnostic evaluations such as blood work and tissue cultures often have limited utility; microbial colonization is common in skin and open wounds.

Prevention and early recognition of risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers is the key to management.

There is an alarming increase of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. Aureus (VISA) strains causing skin infections in the elderly.

The choice of antibiotics should be based on microbiological data, severity of infection, and clinical status of the patient.

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Suggested Reading

  • Anaya, D.A., & Dellinger, E.P. (2007). Necrotizing soft-tissue infection: diagnosis and management. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 44, 705–710.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, M., Gill, S.S., & Rochon, P.A. (2006). Preventing pressure ulcers: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association, 296, 974–984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swartz, M.N. (2004). Clinical practice. Cellulitis. New England Journal of Medicine, 350, 904–912.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Community Living Centers, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA

    Mira Cantrell & Linda Sohn

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  1. Mira Cantrell
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  2. Linda Sohn
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Correspondence to Mira Cantrell .

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    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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    Cantrell, M., Sohn, L. (2009). Skin and Soft Tissues Infections. In: Norman, D., Yoshikawa, T. (eds) Infectious Disease in the Aging. Infectious Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-534-7_15

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-534-7_15

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    • Publisher Name: Humana Press

    • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-533-0

    • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-534-7

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