Current topics in infectious diseases of the skin

The interactions between microbial pathogens and human skin are complex. Skin disease can be caused by injury from invasion of pathogens, microorganism-targeted immune response, oncogenic cellular transformation and inflammatory responses directed at microbial antigens that do not appear to be causing tissue damage. This review discusses recent publications that advance the clinical practice of infectious diseases by scientifically evaluating the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic agents, through expanding understanding of the etiologic or pathophysiologic disease processes, and by providing best-practice therapeutic or diagnostic approaches.