[Hand infections. Part 1: General and superficial hand infections]

This review article will cover both general aspects of hand infections and the most common superficial hand infections. Hand and wrist infections are commonly encountered in clinical practice both by the generalist orthopaedic surgeon and the hand surgeon. Clinically, they appear as a spectrum, from easy to resolve superficial infections, to life and limb threatening deep infections (for example, necrotizing fasciitis). Multiple pathogens can be the causative agents of hand infections (virus, fungi, parasites, mycoplasma, bacterias and mycobacteria). Continuous and prolonged exposure of the hands to the environment expose them to several kinds of infection.