Skin and soft tissue infections: swab or biopsy? A diagnostic dilemma

Deep tissue sampling or aspirates remain the microbiological gold standard for complex SSTIs, while superficial swabs may be appropriate in selected, mild infections or when invasive procedures are not feasible. Future diagnostic strategies should integrate clinical assessment, optimized sampling techniques, and molecular diagnostics within a tiered, stewardship-oriented approach to improve accuracy while avoiding unnecessary invasiveness and antibiotic overuse.