Cellulitis

Question 1

cellulitis

Answer 1

inflammation/infection of the deeper layers of the dermis and subcutaneous layer

Question 2

etiology and risks

Answer 2

• bacteria
• dermal infections (wounds, ulcers)
• elderly
• immunocompromised

Question 3

explain the etiology of bacteria

Answer 3

• usually beta-hemolytic strep and staphylococcus aureus
• strep pyogenes: opportunistic aerobe; in small #s, URT
• staph aureus: occurs in low #s on the skin, some individuals have in nasal passage
• on skin, they won’t enter body w/o a portal of entry

Question 4

patho

Answer 4

• usually targets sacrel region, hands, legs, pinna of ears
• microbe enters subcut layer -> has lots of SA to proliferate
• lymphatic entry
• problem recurrence: recurrence (elderly)

Question 5

example that describes the patho

Answer 5

• athlete’s foot (skin is compromised between toes)
• bacteria enters through wound, travels up leg and causes cellulitis in thigh
• invades dermis and enters tissue spaces in subcut layer (lots of empty space for proliferation) -> get into lymphatic vessels and spread systemically -> systemic infection/inflmtn

Question 6

manifestations

Answer 6

• fever
• edema
• erythematous lesion that’s pruritic and painful

Question 7

complications

Answer 7

• sepsis (can be life-threatening if there’s systemic inflmtn)
• gangrene (extensive necrosis; amputation? DM at increased risk)
• lymphangitis (inflmtn of lymphatic vessels)

Question 8

treatment

Answer 8

• mild: PO Abx

- severe: IV Abx (7-14 days) -> may be a nosocomial infection