Abstract
At least 6% of hospital patients may have infections in the skin and soft tissue. Elderly patients often have infections and lesions associated with scratching and eczema. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant cause, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) may be frequent in endemic areas. Erysipelas and impetigo are most often caused by group A or B streptococci. Shingles (herpes zoster) is relatively frequently occurring in elderly or immune-compromised and may be secondary infected by bacteria. Skin and deeper infections may be caused by using contaminated equipment or liquids. In 2012, 14,000 Americans got injections in the skin, joints and spinal canal of a methylprednisolone contaminated with different types of fungi, and more than 100 died. The treatment of wounds in healthcare is always an aseptic procedure. Tap water and bathing water may contain bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and should not be used to clean wounds.
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Andersen, B.M. (2019). Wound Care: Skin and Soft Tissue. In: Prevention and Control of Infections in Hospitals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99921-0_24
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