Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection which causes redness, pain and swelling in the infected area.
If left untreated it can spread and lead to significant systemic problems.
Cellulitis can occur wherever bacteria enters the deeper layers of the skin – from a bite, puncture, laceration or commonly in areas where the skin is stretched or a chronic wound is sited.
Cellulitis is usually caused by the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria that live on the external skin harmlessly.
NICE guidelines give a guide to assessing the severity and treatment pathway for cellulitis. Our aide-memoire condenses this into a simple quick-reference guide which helps you select the best pathway for your patient.
Remember to suspect and rule out DVT for cellulitis in limbs.
Download the aide-memoire for print here.
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