Prior to the oral presentations at the Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Workshop the audience was polled to assess the participants' knowledge of the epidemiology and aetiology of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) as well as to determine their approach to the treatment of complicated SSTIs (cSSTI). Twenty questions were asked before the presentations and audience members were allowed to answer anonymously using an electronic audience response system. The questions fell into four general categories: aetiology of cSSTI, terminology, epidemiology and treatment. This paper discusses the answers to the questions.