[Management of soft tissue infections in the region of the extremities and the trunk].

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are amongst the most common bacterial infections in humans. SSTI have a broad range of aetiology, clinical manifestation and severity. The outcome may be spontaneous resolution or on the other end sepsis with lethal outcome. Useful classifications are those which differentiate SSTI according to urgency of surgical intervention. The definitive diagnosis should be made by the clinical picture of the lesion and the condition of the patient. The key to successful treatment of many severe necrotizing soft tissue infections is based on early detection and prompt surgical debridement. This procedure has to be followed by an optimal wound management. From the early beginning of treatment an adequately calculated antibiotic treatment is mandatory. At the end of the treatment the wound has to be closed by an aesthetic scar with high mechanical load capacity.