Cellulitis

• Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath. 
• When a patient presents with cellulitis, look for a breach in the skin barrier and a point of entry for the bacteria. 
• Skin changes in cellulitis include:

  • Erythema (red discolouration)
  • Warm or hot to touch
  • Tense
  • Thickened
  • Oedematous
  • Bullae (fluid-filled blisters)
  • A golden-yellow crust indicates a Staphylococcus aureus infection
• Patients may be systemically unwell, including having sepsis.
• Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause
• The Eron classification assesses the severity of cellulitis
• Flucloxacillin is the usual first-line antibiotic for cellulitis, either oral or intravenous. 
• Vancomycin is usually used to treat MRSA