Skin And Soft Tissue Infection

ANAHEIM, Calif. — An antimicrobial stewardship initiative involving more than 130 U.S. hospitals has shown promise — particularly when it comes to treating children for an appropriate duration, researchers reported here.

The ability of antibiotic stewardship programs to control and reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics could be improved by addressing several research gaps, according to a Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America white paper published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Following a “dramatic” rise in skin and soft tissue infections, or SSTIs, in the United States that peaked earlier this decade, evidence shows an overall plateau in more recent years and a decline among children, although the burden remains substantial, researchers reported.