Rheumatology

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

Soft tissue infections
Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America, 06/02/09

Torralba KD et al. – A review of recent literature on the presentation and clinical course of soft tissue infections, that are commonly reported in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, including those who have rheumatic diseases. Use of immunomodulators, including biologic agents, seems to be associated with increased risk for these infections. Increased vigilance among physicians can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment and better outcomes.

1. Histories of environmental exposures, repetitive or acute trauma, whether related to work, posture limitations, or recreation, should give clues to the causative organism.
2. History of comorbidities, use of immunosuppressive agents, risk factors for HIV infection can give clues to the potential severity of the underlying infection.
3. Microbiologic studies should be used to identify causative pathogen.
4. Musculoskeletal imaging, whenever possible, should be used to determine extent of infection, guide needle aspiration, and monitor treatment.
5. Empiric antibiotics should be started as soon as possible and adjusted later
6. Risk factors for antibiotic-resistant organisms should be considered in antibiotic selection.
7. Aggressive surgery is indicated in necrotizing fasciitis and in other infections not responsive to antibiotic therapy.

Related Articles

See all related articles

A case with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic reactive AA amyloidosis showing rapid regression of amyloid deposition on gastroduodenal mucosa after a combined therapy of corticosteroid and etanercept
Rheumatology International, 10/16/09    Relevance Score: 68%

Effective anti-tnf-î± therapy can induce rapid resolution and sustained decrease of gastroduodenal mucosal amyloid deposits in reactive amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Journal of Rheumatology, 10/09/09    Relevance Score: 67%

Steroids' risks can equal their healing benefits
Internet Source, 11/16/09    Relevance Score: 65%

What predicts obesity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? An investigation of the interactions between lifestyle and inflammation
International Journal of Obesity, 11/06/09    Relevance Score: 65%

Infliximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies in one rheumatological center: two years drug survival
Rheumatology International, 10/14/09    Relevance Score: 65%

Today in Clinical Pharmacology...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Malignancy-associated multicentric reticulohistiocytosis
Rheumatology International, 12/20/09

Long-term outcome of systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with bosentan as first-line monotherapy followed or not by the addition of prostanoids or sildenafil
Rheumatology, 12/18/09

Nicotine-patch therapy on mucocutaneous lesions of Behcet's disease: A case series
Rheumatology, 12/18/09

 See all of Clinical Pharmacology

Today in Rheumatoid Arthritis...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Low cortisol levels in active juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Clinical Rheumatology, 12/20/09

Update on the genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis
Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 12/20/09

Immunoglobulin G galactosylation and sialylation are associated with pregnancy-induced improvement of rheumatoid arthritis and the postpartum flare: results from a large prospective cohort study
Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12/20/09

 See all of Rheumatoid Arthritis