Occupational hand infections.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of hand and upper extremity infections is imperative because they have the potential to be life threatening and pose a risk of functional impairment. Serious infections may result in prolonged hospitalization and resultant loss of productivity. The mainstay of treatment continues to be antibiotic therapy, heat, elevation, adequate surgical drainage, and débridement. Prompt specialty consultation should be obtained in cases in which there is a doubt about the diagnosis or when there is failure to improve in the face of seemingly appropriate treatment.