Korean J Dermatol.  2021 Jun;59(5):348-362.

A Study of Antibiotic Susceptibility and Clinical Characteristics in Bacterial Skin Infection

• Lee JH
• Lee SK
• Kim MS
• Lee UH

Abstract

Background
Bacterial skin soft-tissue infection is a common clinical manifestation in dermatology. The treatment of bacterial skin infections is often challenging due to antibiotic resistance, including methicillin resistance.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation rate of bacteria, antibiotic susceptibility, clinical features, and factors associated with treatment response in bacterial skin infections.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent ordinary bacterial skin cultures of the site of superficial skin infections between 2010 and 2019.
Results
A total of 1,298 patients were included in the study. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (31.3%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (22.0%) and Pseudomonas species (4.2%). The methicillin-resistance rate of S. aureus was 22.7%. Crusted lesions (p=0.025), treatment with steroids (p=0.035), duration over 7 days (p=0.009), and isolation of Pseudomonas (p＜0.001) or other uncommon species (non-Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas species, p＜0.001) were significantly associated with treatment response.
Conclusion
The methicillin-resistance rate of S. aureus was similar to that of the past 5 years, but the mupirocin-resistance rate significantly increased. Lesions with crust or those that were treated with steroids showed good treatment responses, but longer disease durations of over 7 days and skin infections caused by Pseudomonas or other uncommon species were poor prognostic factors that should receive more attention.

Keyword

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Soft tissue infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment outcome