What Are The Common Cellulitis Treatments?

Cellulitis is a skin infection brought about by bacteria. Bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Group A Streptococcus are naturally part of our body and are found everywhere. Streptococci and Staphylococci bacteria may enter the skin through cuts, wounds, insect bites, surgery wounds and other skin openings. Once they enter the skin, they release enzymes that break down cellular components and may go deeper to cause infection. The lymph nodes and the bloodstream are also infected and are used by the invading bacteria to spread infection to the entire body.

Cellulitis is diagnosed by observing and analyzing blood samples and getting samples from the sites affected. Cellulitis treatment is usually determined after being diagnosed and is dependent on the severity of the infection. Treatment is intended to ease the pain and discomfort of symptoms, to heal the skin, decrease severity of infection and ultimately to eradicate infection.

Home treatment for cellulitis is only recommended to patients who do not manifest secondary symptoms of infection and do not have a compromised immune system. Medical treatment in a hospital or medical facility is usually obligatory for those who experience chills and vomiting to be able to receive intravenous antibiotics. Those who are too old, too young or those with delicate parts infected such as the eyes need cellulitis treatment in a hospital.

Cellulitis treatment at home includes religiously taking prescribed antibiotics to help cure the infection. The usual oral antibiotics are those coming from the penicillin family such as flucloxacillin. Penicillin side effects include mild digestive problems such as diarrhea. Erythromycin may be a substitute to penicillin for those allergic to the latter. The effects of erythromycin re usually mild and would not last as long as that of penicillin. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Ensuring enough intake of water to prevent dehydration and proper care for the infected area are part of the cellulitis treatment at home. The infected area must be elevated to decrease swelling and the area must be well rested and if possible immobilized to hasten the recovery. To alleviate pain and lower the fever, non-prescription drugs may be taken. Topical ointments for mild skin cellulitis may also be spread on the skin. In cases when symptoms get worse after 48 hours of home care, it is recommended to contact a physician.

Cellulitis treatment in the hospital is needed when intravenous antibiotics must be administered. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are usually administered to kill different types of bacterial infections. Examples are cephalosporin, cephazolin, levofloxacin, nafcillin and oxacillin. Clindamycin and vancomycin are antibiotic alternatives for patients with penicillin allergy. Surgery is only done in severe and rare cases such as the cellulitis caused by a necrotizing or skin-eating bacterium.

Collection of pus in the skin tissues may need to be surgically drained. Inactive and dead tissue must also be cut off in cases where the infection has already gone too deep and the consequences too severe. Clindamycin and vancomycin are antibiotic alternatives for patients with penicillin allergy.

A waiting and monitoring time of around 48 hours is usually given before the doctor switches the IV antibiotics to tablet or oral form. Recurrence is also possible especially to patients with diabetes, edema and skin conditions that lead to skin breakdown.