THE ROLE OF SURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF UNCOMMON SKIN INFECTIONS

BACKGROUND. Some infections do not respond readily to antibiotic therapy. In particular, fungi and mycobacteria often require prolonged treatment, which is expensive and prone to adverse effects. OBJECTIVE. TO investigate the role of surgery in the treatment of skin infections. METHODS. Literature review. RESULTS. Infections caused by atypical mycobacteria, certain fungi, and those involving joints often respond well to surgical treatments. In several situations excision produces a higher cure rate than antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION. Excision, drainage, or debridement has been shown to be superior to drug therapy in several infections and a reasonable alternative in others.