Cellulitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments
Cellulitis is a skin infection that occurs when bacteria enter through a breach in the skin barrier. Celulitis is characterized by skin erythema, edema, and warmth. Cellulitis involves the deeper dermis and subcutaneous fat. Cellulitis is frequently found in middle-aged and elderly people, and incidence is 200 cases per 100,000 patient years. The predisposing factors of cellulitis include wound-like trauma, inflammation, original skin infections such as tinea pedis, varicella, edema, and the like. Causes The most common cellulitis pathogen is beta-hemolytic streptococci and S. aureus. In one study, 73% of beta-hemolytic streptococci were admitted to 179 nonpurulent cellulitis. The response rate of the beta-lactam antibiotic was 96%. Less common pathogens include H. influenza, clostridia, non-spore forming anaerobes, pneumococcus, and meningococcus. Symptoms Patients with cellulitis usually indolent the development of symptoms and gradually develop a localized symptom over the cou...