Cellulitis

Question 1

What is cellulitis?

Answer 1

Acute bacterial infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue

Question 2

What are the most common causes of cellulitis?

Answer 2

Streptococcus pyogenes
Staphylococcus aureus

Question 3

What are some less common causes of cellulitis?

Answer 3

Pseudomonas aeriginosa
Aeromonas hydrophils
Erypelothrix thuspathlae
Eikenella corrodens

Question 4

What is a patient’s average length of stay with cellulitis?

Answer 4

10 days

Question 5

Is recurrence common with cellulitis?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

Why is recurrence likely in cellulitis?

Answer 6

Each episode increases the likelihood of subsequent reoccurrences

Question 7

Risk factors of cellulitis

Answer 7

Age
Obesity
Venous Insufficiency
Trauma
Eczema
Dermatitis
Athletes foot
Oedema
Diabetes

Question 8

Complications of cellulitis

Answer 8

Necrotising fasciitis
Myositis
Sepsis
Subcutaneous abscess
Post-streptococcal Glomerulonephritis

Question 9

Chronic Complications of cellulitis

Answer 9

Persistent leg ulceration
Lymph-oedema
Recurrent cellulitis

Question 10

Examination of cellulitis

Answer 10

More common in lower limbs
Usually affects one limb
Acute onset of red, painful and tender skin that spreads rapidly
Fever, nausea, shivering and rigors

Question 11

Laboratory Investigations for cellulitis

Answer 11

Raised WCC
Raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Raised C-Reactive Protein
Normal blood inflammatory markers make diagnosis unlikely