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Guidelines
Moderate

Moderate

Clinical Manifestations

  • Erythema is ≥ 2cm OR involves deeper than skin or SQ tissue
  • No SIRS

Empiric Treatment

with or without

OR

with or without

OR

PLUS

If MRSA Risk, ADD

  • History of MRSA infection/colonization in past year
  • Nursing home/subacute facility stay
  • Recent or current prolonged hospital stay
  • IVDU
  • Clinically severe infection

Duration

Moderate Skin/Soft Tissue Infection: ~1-3 weeks (shorter courses are feasible if adequate surgical intervention)

Varies by severity, clinical response, bone involvement, adequacy of blood supply and surgical intervention

  • Post-amputation/no residual infection: ~2-5 days
  • Residual soft tissue infected: 1-3 weeks
  • Residual VIABLE bone infected: ~4-6 weeks
  • No surgery OR residual DEAD non-viable bone: ≥ 3 months

Change to oral antibiotics once patient is stable

Discontinue abx once clinical signs and symptoms have resolved