Welcome

Kia ora, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa Lahi atu, Taloha ni, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakatalofa atu, Talofa lava

This website has been created to inform health professionals, community workers, schools and families about the prevention and treatment of serious skin infections.

In recent years hospitalisations for the treatment of serious skin infections have been increasing in New Zealand.

In response to this increase projects have been set up in Auckland and Wellington (click onto the main menu for further information on what is happening in these areas). The Auckland project was based in Glen Innes. The project in Wellington is based across the greater Wellington region, encompassing Capital & Coast District Health Board and Hutt Valley District Health Board.

Serious skin infections include cellulitis (an acute bacterial infection of the soft tissues of the skin - infection spreads causing the skin and layers underneath to become red, swollen and tender) and abscesses (a cavity containing pus, which may also have surrounding cellulitis) of the skin and tissue, all of which are largely cause by germs (bacteria).

If left untreated skin infections can lead to serious health problems. These infections can affect your blood, kidney, bones, joints, lymph nodes and brain, and people have to be hospitalised for treatment. But if you act early enough there are steps you can take to stop this from happening!