Antibiotics for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections?

Cellulitis and small skin and soft tissue abscesses are exceedingly common causes of emergency and urgent care visits. Their management has been complicated in recent years by the emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Should clinicians routinely use antibiotics directed at this pathogen? This year's research doesn't provide consistent answers.

MRSA coverage might not be necessary for cellulitis. In a U.S. multicenter, double-blind trial, researchers randomized 500 outpatients with acute cellulitis to a course of cefalexin alone or cefalexin plus trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for specific MRSA coverage. Cure rates were similar in both groups. None of these patients were immunocompromised…