Microbiology Nuts & Bolts
  • Home
  • Basic Concepts
    • What is infection?
    • Normal flora
    • Diagnosing infection
  • Microbiology
    • Basic bacterial identification
    • Interpreting bacteriology results
    • Interpreting serology results
  • Infection Control
    • What is infection control?
    • Universal precautions
    • MRSA
    • Clostridium difficile
  • Clinical Scenarios
    • Respiratory infections
    • Urinary infections
    • GI infections >
      • D&V
      • CDAD
    • CNS infections
    • Skin & bone infections
    • Sepsis
  • Antibiotics
    • Antimicrobial Stewardship
    • How antibiotics work
    • How to choose an antibiotic?
    • Reviewing antibiotics
    • Antibiotic resistance
    • Testing antibiotic resistance
    • Penicillin allergy
    • Theraputic Drug Monitoring
  • Guidelines
  • Lectures & Lecture Notes
    • Medical Students
    • Curriculum for the Foundation Program
    • Foundation Year 1
    • Foundation Year 2
    • Other Lectures
  • The Bug Blog
  • Buy the book...
  • NEW Edition Updates
  • Peer Reviews
  • Want to know more?
  • Contact

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues.

Clinical Features

• Spreading erythema
• Acute inflammation – pain, redness, heat, swelling and loss of function
• Systemic symptoms – fever, tachycardia, hypotension
Cellulitis Warning Necrotising Fasciitis
Cellulitis Common Mistake chronic lymphoedema

Causes

Common
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (Groups A, C and G)

Diabetics OR Vascular Insufficiency
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (Groups A, B, C and G)
• Gram-negative bacteria e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Anaerobes e.g. Clostridium sp.

​Returned Travellers
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (Groups A, C and G)
• Opportunists e.g. Aeromonas sp., Vibrio vulnificus

Investigations

• Usually a clinical diagnosis
• If broken skin consider taking skin swabs after removing overlying slough
• If systemic symptoms consider taking blood cultures
Cellulitis Myth - colonised ulcers
Cellulitis Treatment
Total Duration
10-14 days

Dosing
See section - Antibiotics, Empirical Antibiotic Guidelines.
Cellulitis Hints & Tips MRSA
Prognosis and Complications
Most patients get better with treatment.

Prophylaxis and Prevention
No roll for antibiotics to prevent recurrence.
Cellulitis Hints & Tips Recurrent Cellulitis
Microbiology Nuts & Bolts on Amazon
Topics in Clinical Scenarios - Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone & Joint Conditions:
  • Bites
  • Infected Burns, Skin Grafts & Post-Op Wounds
  • Intravascular Device Associated Infection
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Septic Arthritis
  • Necrotising Fasciitis (see Emergencies)

​All these topics are covered in the book...Ready to buy your copy? Click here to buy your copy of "Microbiology Nuts & Bolts" Its updated and amazingly only slightly larger considering its got 1/3 more in it! (11cmx18cmx2.5cm).

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.