[Harmless or life threatening? Properly assessing soft tissue infections].

Soft tissue infections are highly diverse in presentation, and their severity is readily underestimated. Classifications in the literature are not uniform. Clinically, a recommended classification is based on the spread of the infection into deeper regions: superficial and deep soft tissue infections. Superficial infections, that is, those confined to the cutis and subcutis, include furuncles, erysipelas and phlegmons (acute suppurative inflammation). The second group--infection affecting fascia and muscle--include both classical gas gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis which, despite aggressive treatment, are associated with a high mortality rate. The present review shows the classification and differential diagnosis of these infections.