A systematic review of bacteremias in cellulitis and erysipelas. Cellulitis is more common in older adults but can happen in any age group and either gender. . This could be a nick, cut, or tear caused by an injury, surgery, bug bite, burn, or itching of a rash. Your healthcare provider will consider your age, overall health and severity of the condition when determining the appropriate treatment for you. Treating Cellulitis with Antibiotics and Medicine, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Treat-Cellulitis-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-Cellulitis-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Treat-Cellulitis-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid5760888-v4-728px-Treat-Cellulitis-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. Liver diseases like cirrhosis or hepatitis. However, the culture may take a full week or more to produce final results. Different breaks in the skin can include: DR P. MARAZZI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images When to Seek Immediate Care Cellulitis can be an urgent medical concern. Soft-tissue infections: Erysipelas, Cellulitis, Gangrenous Cellulitis, and Myonecrosis. 6th ed, pp. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more here. Common antibiotics that are used to treat cellulitis include the following: Someone who appears to be very sick or who has other chronic illnesses that may complicate their recovery may need to be hospitalized to receive intravenous antibiotics. If you have diabetes, visually check your feet for signs of skin breaks or infection. Those who have swelling in their legs such as from venous stasis or lymphedema (e.g., after surgery for breast cancer), those with varicose veins, or those who have had vein grafts taken tend to have more cases of cellulitis, as they cannot clear bacteria as quickly, allowing the bacteria to survive, divide, and cause infections. This condition causes uncomfortable or painful symptoms. People with weakened immune systems, venous insufficiency, lymphedema, poor healing from chronic conditions like diabetes, or inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing cellulitis. What is the latest research on the form of cancer Jimmy Carter has? Rely on a professional to drain a boil. While cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, it is most common on the feet and legs. This is the stage where the infection of the cells occur, which is scientifically known as cellulitis. Dog bites can in rare cases lead to a serious cause of infection, Capnocytophaga, which is very dangerous in those who do not have spleens. 2015;92(6):474-483. People can speak with a doctor for further information about cellulitis on an individual basis. Note the red streak going up the arm due to bacterial infection. Surgical debridement in which portions of your infected skin and muscle are removed is attempted first for severe infections. This article has been viewed 110,374 times. If a doctor suspects the infection has spread, they may require a person to stay in the hospital to assess them and administer intravenous antibiotics. Cellulitis is a potentially serious skin infection. Bacterial skin infections are the 28th most common diagnosis in hospitalized patients. Related searches: Most likely, you'll receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics, which circulate throughout your bloodstream and are more powerful than oral antibiotics for treating an infection. Dermatology, pp.1123-1124. The lymph nodes nearest the infection may feel swollen. It usually affects only one place at a timefor example, just one leg, not both. Approved. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. New York: Mosby, 2003. Kristen Gasnick, PT, DPT, is a medical writer and a physical therapist at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey. Sepsis can occur when the bacteria from the skin reach deeper and spread through the blood, seeding other parts of the body. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments here. Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin, reaching down to the fascia below. 2004;164(15):1669-1674. doi:10.1001/archinte.164.15.1669, Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Because it is uncommon for people with cellulitis to discover the exact type of bacteria causing the infection (there is rarely any testing performed to show which type of bacteria is responsible), healthcare providers often have to make educated guesses about what the likeliest bacteria are and base treatment on those guesses. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.