What Is Cellulitis? The word cellulitis literally means inflammation of the cells.

It is a skin infection that involves areas of tissue just below the surface of the skin. Cellulitis can affect any area of the body, but it's most common on exposed body parts, such as the face, arms, or lower legs. Cellulitis can be caused by many different types of bacteria. The most common ones are group A streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Cellulitis usually begins in an area of broken skin like a cut, bite, or scratch. People who have body piercings may be susceptible to cellulitis because the hole where the skin is pierced provides an opportunity for bacteria to get beneath the surface of the skin more easily. But cellulitis can also start in areas where the skin hasn't been broken, especially in people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or who are taking medicines that affect the immune system.

Pathophysiology
What Are the Symptoms of Cellulitis? Cellulitis begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling, warmth, and redness on the skin. As this area begins to spread, a person who has cellulitis may begin to feel ill and develop a fever and sometimes chills and sweats. Swollen lymph nodes (commonly called swollen glands) are sometimes found near the area of infected skin. The incubation period (the time it takes for the infection to start causing symptoms) varies, depending on the type of bacteria that causes the cellulitis. For example, cellulitis caused by Pasteurella multocida, one of the bacteria commonly found in animal bites, has a short incubation period less than 24 hours after the bite has occurred. But cellulitis caused by other types of bacteria may have an incubation period of several days. Cellulitis usually follows a break in the skin, such as a fissure, cut, laceration, insect bite, or puncture wound. Organisms on the skin and its appendages gain entrance to the dermis and multiply to cause cellulitis. Facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin may also occur. However, cellulitis frequently occurs in areas where no apparent injury exists. This is common in dry and irritated skin where microscopic breaks allow penetration of bacteria. Patients with toe web intertrigo and/or tinea pedis and those with lymphatic obstruction, venous insufficiency, pressure ulcers, and obesity. The vast majority of cases are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes orStaphylococcus aureus. Occasionally, cellulitis may be caused by the emergence of subjacent osteomyelitis. Cellulitis may rarely result from the metastatic seeding of an organism from a distant focus of infection, especially in immunocompromised individuals. This is particularly common in cellulitis due to S pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and marine vibrios. Neisseria meningitidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Brucella species, and Legionellaspecies have also been reported as rare causes of cellulitis resulting from hematogenous spread.

 Treatment for Cellulitis In severe cases, antibiotics may be given intravenously for the first 24 to 72 hours, followed by oral antibiotics. Mild cases may only require oral antibiotics. In severe cases that progress rapidly or are associated with necrosis (tissue destruction), necrotizing cellulitis-fasciitis is considered. This requires urgent surgical exploration. Prevention of Cellulitis Keeping minor abrasions, cuts and bruises clean and free of continued trauma can lessen the likelihood of cellulitis.

Brgy. San Gabriel, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite

College of Nursing

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SUBMITTED BY:

Prado, Clenton H. Rey, Kristine Nicole B. Sy, Joanne Frenzle M. Tienda, Marichu S.

SUBMITTED TO:

mrs. MARIA Carlota G. dela cueSta, rn,man

YEAR & SECTION: bsn 3a DATE: July 29, 2011