Susceptibility of microorganisms causing acute hand infections

Hand infections are a common presentation at the emergency departments. Without knowing the source of infection clinicians are dependent on systematic reports on the bacterial spectrum and susceptibility tests of the specific infection in their patient community. This study was based on a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to our outpatient clinic with acute hand infections. We documented patient demographics, the etiology, location, culture tests of the infection and analyzed if certain bacteria could be cultured significantly more often in certain etiologies or in specific sites of the hand infection. Susceptibility tests were added. Bacterial swabs of 204 patients were analyzed. Overall S. aureus was found in 53% of all cases, in only one case revealed methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). There was no significant difference in the bacterial spectrum according to the etiology of the hand infections, except for animal bites where Pasteurella multocida was the dominating bacteria in 63% of all cases. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, fluoroquinolones, and piperacillin were effective against the main bacteria. Our study confirms the previously published antibiotic resistance reports and reinforces the current antibiotic treatment guidelines also in this western European population.