26 - Cellulitis

Question 1

Symptoms of cellulitis?

Answer 1

Red, painful swelling of the skin (around the fingernail in the case)

Question 2

Initial treatment of cellulitis?

Answer 2

Topical antibiotic cream (fusidic acid in the case)

Question 3

How does treatment of cellulitis progress if topical antibiotic cream is ineffective?

Answer 3

Assess if patient is systemically unwell

- if they are not, then appropriate to prescribe an oral antibiotic

Question 4

Which antibiotic and administration route is first-line choice in refractive cellulitis?

Answer 4

Oral flucloxacillin