Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

1 medicine

Skin and soft tissue infections range from simple cellulitis and impetigo to deeper infections such as abscesses, most caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus bacteria and treated with antibiotics.

Zyvox

Linezolid

600mg

Zyvox is a antibiotics medication containing Linezolid, available as 600mg tablets.

from $7.00 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) cover a broad range of conditions, from simple cellulitis and impetigo to deeper infections like erysipelas, abscesses, and necrotising fasciitis.
  • Most are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes entering through a break in the skin, a cut, an insect bite, or a surgical wound.
  • Straightforward SSTIs usually respond to first-line antibiotics, but methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) resists many common treatments.
  • Linezolid is used for complicated, MRSA-related infections when other agents have failed or cannot be used.

What causes it

Most skin and soft tissue infections start when Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes gets into the skin through a break in its surface: a cut, an insect bite, or a surgical wound. From there the bacteria can stay superficial, as in impetigo, or spread into deeper layers, producing cellulitis, erysipelas, an abscess, or, rarely, necrotising fasciitis.

When standard antibiotics are not enough

Straightforward SSTIs usually respond well to first-line antibiotics. The challenge arises with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a strain that resists many of the treatments that clear ordinary staph and strep infections. MRSA-associated SSTIs occur in both hospital and community settings, and rates vary considerably by region and healthcare setting.

For complicated SSTIs caused by MRSA or other multi-drug-resistant organisms, linezolid is one of the options used when other agents have failed or cannot be used. It works by blocking bacterial protein synthesis and has activity against both gram-positive organisms and resistant strains, making it a useful fallback when first-line antibiotics have not cleared the infection.

When to see a doctor

Seek prompt medical assessment if a skin infection is spreading rapidly, accompanied by a high fever, or causing tissue that looks dark or feels numb: these can be signs of a deeper or more serious infection requiring urgent care.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.