This 2011 Current Concepts review covers the full spectrum of hand infections — from paronychia and felon to deep space infections, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, bite wounds, and necrotizing fasciitis — addressing microbiology, anatomic surgical principles, and antimicrobial selection in the context of rising MRSA prevalence.
When a patient presents with any hand infection requiring admission — tenosynovitis, deep space abscess, septic arthritis, or bite wound — start empiric MRSA coverage with vancomycin before cultures return, understand the anatomy to plan the correct surgical approach, and match antibiotic duration to the depth of infection (3 weeks for tenosynovitis, 3–4 weeks for septic arthritis, 4–6 weeks for osteomyelitis).
This 2011 Current Concepts review covers the full spectrum of hand infections — from paronychia and felon to deep space infections, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, bite wounds, and necrotizing fasciitis — addressing microbiology, anatomic surgical principles, and antimicrobial selection in the context of rising MRSA prevalence.
When a patient presents with any hand infection requiring admission — tenosynovitis, deep space abscess, septic arthritis, or bite wound — start empiric MRSA coverage with vancomycin before cultures return, understand the anatomy to plan the correct surgical approach, and match antibiotic duration to the depth of infection (3 weeks for tenosynovitis, 3–4 weeks for septic arthritis, 4–6 weeks for osteomyelitis).