| Infection |
|
Limb cellulitis - inpatient treatment
|
| Antibiotic Therapy (before prescribing, carefully read the Notes / Comments section below) |
|
Flucloxacillin IV 2g 6 hourly
If true penicillin / beta-lactam allergy or suspected MRSA:
Vancomycin IV (dosing info here)
|
| Duration |
| Total (IV and oral) up to 10 days |
| Notes / Comments |
- Cellulitis presents as an area of skin which has acutely become red, hot, tender, and swollen; it is not uncommon for blisters or bullae to develop.
- The leg is the most common site and presentation is almost exclusively unilateral. Chronic venous eczema can mimic the appearance of cellulitis and be mislabelled as "bilateral cellulitis".
- Minor breaks in the skin can act as portal of entry.
- The most common causes of skin and soft tissue infections are S. aureus and S. pyogenes ("Group A Strep"). Flucloxacillin covers both organisms. Vancomycin covers both staphylococci (including MRSA) and streptococci.
|
