Attending Version
Cellulitis and Soft-Tissue Infections Module
created by Dr. Dana Fotieo
Objectives:
1. Review definition and clinical features of cellulitis and erysipelas.
2. Recognize symptoms/findings that are suggestive of a deeper soft-tissue
infection.
3. Discuss treatment of cellulitis (including CA-MRSA)
4. Consider risk factors for development of CA-MRSA skin and soft-tissue
infections.
References:
1. Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et. al. Practice Guidelines for the
Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections. Clinical
Infectious Diseases 2005; 41:1373-1406.
2. Swartz MN. Cellulitis. New England Journal of Medicine 2004; 350: 904912.
Discussion
I. Definitions:
*Cellulitis- infection of the skin with extension into the subcutaneous tissues, not sharply
demarcated. Most commonly caused by B-hemolytic strep.
*Erysipelas- superficial cellulitis with distinct margins.
*Furuncle (boil) - infection of hair follicle with pus extending into subcutaneous
tissues. Usually caused by staph aureus.
*Carbuncle- involvement of several hair follicles resulting in an inflammatory mass that
expresses pus from multiple openings.
II. Local Findings (cellulitis)
*Confluent, macular erythema
*Swelling of the involved area
*Warmth of the skin
*Tenderness
*Tender regional lymphadenopathy
*Lymphangitis
*May have abscess formation
*May have associated dermatological findings (ex. Tinea pedis, psoriasis)
III. Etiology
*Usually not necessary to determine etiology if mild infection. Streptococci most
common pathogen (particularly if no obvious portal of entry and diffuse). Coverage for
staph aureus often done (particularly if associated abscess). Need to consider CA-MRSA
(which will be discussed later).
*If patient is systemically toxic (fever, hypothermia, tachycardia, hypotension), it is
recommended that the following labs be obtained:
Blood culture and sensitivity (of note, blood cultures are positive in < 5% of cases)
CBC with diff
Creatinine
Bicarbonate
CPK
CRP
*May need to pursue further diagnostic workup with GS and culture from abscess/wound
if present.
*If unusual circumstances (such as immunosuppression, immersion injury, animal bite,
malignancy), may need biopsy or aspiration to help guide antibiotic therapy.
IV. Clues of more serious or deep infection:
*Pain out of proportion to exam
*Violaceous bullae
*Hemorrhage of the skin
*Sloughing of the skin
*Dermal anesthesia
*Rapid spread
*Gas in tissue
****EMERGENT surgical evaluation indicated****
V. Treatment of “Typical Infections”:
A) MSSA Skin Soft-Tissue Infections
*Nafcillin or Oxacillin IV (dicloxacillin oral equivalent)
*Cefazolin (Ancef) IV (for PCN allergic patients, unless immediate hypersensitivity rxn).
Cephalexin (Keflex) is oral equivalent.
*Clindamycin IV or oral can be used (bacteriostatic; potential resistance for
erythromycin-resistant strains; potential to induce resistance with MRSA).
*Alternatives might be a macrolide. However, need to be aware of potential for
macrolide (erythromycin) resistant strep pyogenes.
B) Community-associated (CA) MRSA Potential Risk Factors
*Close contact with people infected or colonized with MRSA
*Prisoners
*Members of competitive sports teams
*Military personnel
*Children in daycare centers
*Prior skin infection
*Previous antibiotic use
*Men who have sex with men
*Illicit drug use
*Tattoo recipients
*Native Americans
VI. Treatment
*Think about CA-MRSA skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI) in high risk groups and
treatment failures for “typical” SSTI.
*Drain fluctuant lesions. Obtain GS and culture.
*Possible antibiotic choices:
*Doxycycline (avoid in kids <8 and pregnant women)
*Clindamycin (may have resistance with certain strains that have inducible resistance to
erythromycin)
*Bactrim can be used (most treatment failures occur when actually dealing with
MSSA).
*If quinolones chosen, need to choose one with increased gram positive activity
(such as levaquin).
*Vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin are all effective. In the case of CA-MRSA
SSTI, they should be reserved for serious infections or after treatment failure
with other agents.
Review Questions
1) A 21 year old male who plays on the college soccer team presents to the emergency
room with a red area on his left lower extremity. He is not aware of any specific trauma
to that leg. He reports occasional alcohol use. No IVDA. Past medical history is
unremarkable. On physical examination, his vital signs are all stable. The erythematous
area on his left distal lower extremity measures 5 x 6 cm and is tender to palpation. No
fluctuance is appreciated. The patient is discharged from the emergency room with a
prescription for keflex 500 mg po every 6 hours and advised to use warm compresses.
The patient returns to the emergency room 3 days later. He has been able to continue
with soccer practice; however, the red patch has increased in size and has become
increasingly tender. His vital signs remain stable. There is now evidence of a fluctuant
area.
What is the most appropriate course of action now?
(A) Admit to the hospital and start IV Vancomycin.
(B) I & D the wound and start IV Vancomycin.
(C) I & D the wound and start po bactrim.
(D) Initiate po linezolid.
Correct answer: C
I & D is appropriate given fluctuance noted on exam. A gram stain and culture would be
helpful to help guide therapy. As the patient’s wound has progressed on keflex,
consideration for a more serious infection and/or resistant organism needs to be made.
As he is not particularly toxic, the most likely scenario would be infection with an
organism that is resistant to the B-lactam drug he has been prescribed. He has a risk
factor for CA-MRSA as he is on a sports team. Vancomycin, bactrim, and linezolid
would all treat CA-MRSA. However, given his lack of systemic toxicity, it would be
most prudent to start with an inexpensive oral agent after obtaining the appropriate
wound culture.
2) 38 year old male with PMH significant for AODM, HTN, venous insufficiency
presents to the ER with a 2 day h/o LLE redness and pain.
Physical:
Temp= 101.2 HR=105 BP=86/50
LLE (distal aspect)- erythematous area 4x 5 cm; some ecchymoses; small stasis ulcer;
some anesthesia lateral aspect of calf; sloughing skin; tissue feels “wooden.”
The most appropriate initial course of action would be:
(A) Obtain MRI LLE; blood cultures; start broad-spectrum antibiotics
(B) Culture wound site; blood cultures; start broad-spectrum antibiotics
(C) Consult surgery; blood cultures; start broad-spectrum antibiotics
(D) Obtain plain film LLE; blood cultures; start broad-spectrum antibiotics
Correct answer (C):
Patient has signs of systemic toxicity as evidenced by his vital signs. On exam, the
dermal anesthesia, ecchymoses, sloughing of the skin, and wooden-hard feeling (in
cellulites the subcutaneous tissues have some “give”) of the subcutaneous tissue all point
to the possibility of necrotizing fascitis. Most infections present in the limbs, specifically
the lower extremities (2/3). MRI would be helpful for diagnostic purposes, but surgical
consultation/intervention should not be delayed in order to obtain imaging. A plain film
might show evidence of gas in the soft tissues, but again prompt surgical consultation
is of paramount importance. Blood cultures are only positive in ~4% of cases of
cellulitis, but it would be very appropriate to obtain them in this situation given the
toxicity of the patient.
Post Module Evaluation
Please place completed evaluation in an interdepartmental mail envelope and address to
Dr. Wendy Gerstein, Department of Medicine, VAMC (111).
1) Topic of module:__________________________
2) On a scale of 1-5, how effective was this module for learning this topic? _________
(1= not effective at all, 5 = extremely effective)
3) Were there any obvious errors, confusing data, or omissions? Please list/comment
below:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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4) Was the attending involved in the teaching of this module? Yes/no (please circle).
5) Please provide any further comments/feedback about this module, or the inpatient
curriculum in general:
6) Please circle one:
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