Diagnosis and Management of Hand Infections

Hand and upper-extremity infections span a broad spectrum of presentations for the hand surgeon, primary care provider, and emergency medicine practitioner. As many hand infections arise from penetrating trauma, knowledge of the offending pathogen, location, and mode of spread allows the clinician to determine the appropriate intervention. Along with a thorough history and physical examination, patient factors such as age, occupation, medical comorbidities, and surgical history should be noted. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management allow for optimal recovery and outcomes. In this article, we describe the ongoing debate regarding the timing and influence of preoperative antibiotics on culture yield, timing of debridement for open fractures as it relates to infection risk, and strategies for obtaining adequate cultures to guide antibiotic therapy for complex infections such as periprosthetic joint and hardware infections. Given the changing epidemiological landscape and increased rates of antibiotic resistance, it is critical to promote antibiotic stewardship. We provide updated treatment recommendations and antibiotic profiles for the treatment of common hand infections. Finally, we discuss newer technologies such as next-generation sequencing and development of promising diagnostic and treatment strategies that will enhance the hand surgeon’s ability to treat complex hand infections.