Knowra Cellulitis Cellulitis Cellulitis is a spreading bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It typically causes a warm, tender, expanding area of redness and may lead to systemic illness.
Skin barrier : The skin’s physical and chemical defenses that limit water loss and entry of microbes. Breaks in this barrier commonly give bacteria access to deeper skin.
Cephalexin : An oral first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic active against many streptococci and methicillin-susceptible staphylococci. It is commonly used for uncomplicated cellulitis when these bacteria are likely.
Dermis : The connective-tissue layer of skin beneath the epidermis, containing blood vessels, nerves, and immune cells. Cellulitis involves the dermis as well as tissue beneath the skin.
Lower-limb cellulitis : Cellulitis affecting the leg or foot, often associated with skin breaks, edema, or impaired circulation. The legs are a frequent site, and recurrence may follow persistent local risk factors.
Stasis dermatitis : Chronic skin inflammation caused by venous hypertension, usually affecting the lower legs. It can resemble cellulitis but is often chronic, bilateral, and linked to venous disease.
Streptococcus pyogenes : A group A streptococcus that causes infections ranging from strep throat to invasive disease. It can spread through skin tissue and cause rapidly advancing cellulitis.
Intravenous cefazolin : An injectable first-generation cephalosporin used to treat susceptible bacterial infections. It is a common hospital treatment when cellulitis is severe or oral therapy is unsuitable.
Subcutaneous tissue : The layer of fat and connective tissue beneath the skin, containing larger vessels and nerves. Its infection is part of the defining extent of cellulitis.
Periorbital cellulitis : Infection of eyelid and surrounding tissues anterior to the orbital septum. Its location requires distinction from orbital infection, which threatens vision and can spread intracranially.
Contact dermatitis : Skin inflammation caused by direct exposure to an irritant or allergen. It may cause redness and swelling without the spreading bacterial infection of cellulitis.
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