6. Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

This podcast episode focuses on skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), providing definitions, risk factors, causative organisms, symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment approaches. The hosts clarify that SSTIs are broad catch-all terms affecting different skin layers, excluding bone and joint infections. Risk factors discussed include skin barrier breakdowns (eczema, injecting drug use), immunosuppression (diabetes, biologics), and local issues hindering white blood cell function (venous insufficiency). Staph aureus and beta-hemolytic strep are identified as the predominant causative organisms, with treatment primarily involving anti-staphylococcal penicillins like flucloxacillin. The discussion emphasizes clinical diagnosis based on symptoms like pain, redness, heat, and swelling, while investigations mainly rule out other conditions.