Factors Associated with Rehospitalisation for Cellulitis and How to Mitigate Against Them

Abstract

Gavin Barlow, Hull York Medical School, UK, spoke with the EMJ about risk factors for the bacterial infection cellulitis, including prior history of the condition, older age, and a number of comorbidities ranging from diabetes to athlete’s foot. Following hospitalisation, readmission for cellulitis, which occurs in around 12% of patients in the first month, may be due to such risk factors, as well as socioeconomic conditions. Readmission can greatly impact healthcare utilisation in economic and infection control terms and the use of sparse facilities, such as side-room beds. It can also impact a patient’s quality of life (QoL). Mitigating against readmission for cellulitis necessitates an understanding of the reasons for such, including risk factors, and how best to control them by, for instance, giving proper healthcare provision for comorbidities and educating patients to raise awareness of the recurrence of cellulitis.