Helen Fosam

The suggestion of bias in the development of dermatology clinical practice guidelines emerging from the study by Checketts and colleagues has attracted several critical responses including methodological flaws, limitations of the OPD as the data source, and data analysis that is inconsistent with the available evidence.

With demonstrated superior efficacy and safety profiles compared with previously used conventional treatment options, the expectation of outcomes with biologic agents is at worst a well-controlled disease, and at best, disease remission.

Although the step-care approach is the current standard of care, this approach is flawed in several ways with respect to achieving optimal outcomes.

The increasing resistance to various anti-infective agents by bacteria and fungi—in particular Staphylococcus aureus, which is responsible for the majority of skin infections—is of particular concern and presents increasing challenges in treating skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs).