Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections on the Rise

The incidence of SSTIs has increased rapidly in the U.S., coinciding with the rise in community-associated MRSA infections.

We are now several years into a global epidemic of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections. To determine the effects of this epidemic on the rate of visits to U.S. ambulatory clinics and emergency departments for skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs), and on antibiotic prescribing for SSTIs, investigators analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care surveys for 1997 through 2005.

The rate of SSTI-related ambulatory physician visits increased from 1997 to 2005 (from 32 to 48 visits per 1000 population; P=0.003). Most of this increase occurred from 2001 through 2004, and 95% of the rise was attributable to visits for abscess/cellulitis. The…

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS