Abstract
Acute bacterial cellulitis is a common infection seen by family physicians; it is usually caused by beta‐hemolytic streptococci and/or Staphylococcus aureus. Cellulitis following bite wound injuries from animals and humans requires antibiotics directed at the mouth microflora characteristic of the biting animal. Depending on the severity and the rapidity of the progression of the infection, as well as patient compliance with oral therapy, intravenous antibiotics may be required for treatment, and this may often be accomplished with an outpatient administration program. In addition to intravenous and subsequent oral step‐down antibiotic therapy, special attention needs to be applied to reducing or eliminating predisposing factors such as pre‐existent edema and local fungi, or other forms of dermatitis. With effective antibiotic therapy, the erythema generated by acute cellulitis may resolve quickly or slowly, but usually does so progressively. Patients with persistent skin inflammation and swelling must be examined carefully for subcutaneous abscess formation.
Highlights
Acute bacterial cellulitis is a common infection seen by family physicians; it is usually caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci and/or Staphylococcus aureus
Cellulitis is technically any inflammation of soft tissue but by convention usually refers to a bacterial infection of skin and superficial connective tissue [1]
If there is an open lesion, staphylococci are fairly common in conjunction with streptococci, whereas in marginated spreading cellulitis without an open lesion, which is similar to the classic syndrome described as erysipelas, the infection is usually streptococcal
Summary
An algorithm for the management of acute bacterial cellulitis. Acute bacterial cellulitis is a common infection seen by family physicians; it is usually caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci and/or Staphylococcus aureus. Cellulitis following bite wound injuries from animals and humans requires antibiotics directed at the mouth microflora characteristic of the biting animal. Depending on the severity and the rapidity of the progression of the infection, as well as patient compliance with oral therapy, intravenous antibiotics may be required for treatment, and this may often be accomplished with an outpatient administration program. In addition to intravenous and subsequent oral step-down antibiotic therapy, special attention needs to be applied to reducing or eliminating predisposing factors such as pre-existent edema and local fungi, or other forms of dermatitis. The erythema generated by acute cellulitis may resolve quickly or slowly, but usually does so progressively. Patients with persistent skin inflammation and swelling must be examined carefully for subcutaneous abscess formation
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