This review article summarizes the diagnosis, surgical management, and antibiotic treatment of *Staphylococcus aureus* skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), with attention to antibiotic-resistant strains and treatment duration.
Incision and drainage (I&D) is the cornerstone of treatment for purulent SSTIs; adjunctive antibiotics further increase cure rates. Empiric antibiotic selection should reflect local S. aureus resistance patterns, and treatment duration is typically 7 days after surgical drainage when adequate clinical response is achieved.
As a review/summary article, it does not present original trial data or a systematic meta-analysis, limiting the ability to assess primary evidence quality or effect sizes directly.
For purulent SSTIs, always perform I&D first — antibiotics alone are insufficient. Tailor empiric antibiotic choice to local MRSA prevalence and limit the course to 7 days post-drainage in patients with adequate response.
