Cellulitis in Adult
See also in: Cellulitis DDx,Anogenital,Hair and Scalp,Oral Mucosal LesionAlerts and Notices
Synopsis
- Immunocompetent adults: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent etiology in children and in purulent cellulitis.
- Immunocompromised individuals, including those with diabetes and decubitus ulcers: mixture of gram-positive cocci and gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes.
Fevers, chills, and malaise often precede the onset of cellulitis. Poorly defined borders, erythema, swelling, tenderness, and warmth characterize typical cellulitis lesions. In adults, the extremities are the most common sites affected. In more severe cases, additional clinical features may include vesicle and bulla formation, pustules, and necrosis. Complications are not common but can include glomerulonephritis, lymphadenitis, and subacute bacterial endocarditis.
A rising prevalence of MRSA has been identified as a pathogen of skin and soft tissue infections in otherwise healthy individuals lacking the aforementioned risk factors for cellulitis. MRSA should be considered for penetrating traumas, purulent infections, and in specific populations: athletes, children, prisoners, military service members, long-term care residents, and intravenous drug users. Other MRSA risk factors include recent admission to a health care facility, presence of an indwelling catheter, poor personal hygiene, and history of MRSA.
Note: Cellulitis virtually never occurs bilaterally at the same time. If redness and involvement of the legs are bilateral in a patient suspected to have cellulitis, consider an alternative diagnosis such as stasis dermatitis or contact dermatitis.
Related topics: Orbital Cellulitis, Preseptal Cellulitis
Codes
ICD10CM:L03.90 – Cellulitis, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
128045006 – Cellulitis
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Cellulitis can be caused by many different bacterial pathogens, but the diagnosis is almost always made clinically. If a patient has had more than 1 episode of cellulitis, investigate risk factors for recurring cellulitis but also consider alternative diagnoses.Stasis dermatitis is a frequent cause of bilateral leg redness. There are usually no systemic signs or leukocytosis; commonly it is bilateral with pruritus and red-brown dyspigmentation.
The differential for cellulitis is vast, and time course, drug / exposure history, and the presence / absence of systemic features should help delineate the cause. Below are common differential diagnoses:
Deep tissue infection
- Myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Erysipelas
- Arthropod bite
- Flexor tenosynovitis
- Herpes zoster
- Erythema migrans of Lyme disease
- Chemical cellulitis / extravasation injury
- Wells syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis)
- Atopic dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis (allergic, irritant)
- Phytophotodermatitis
- Sweet syndrome
- Panniculitides, such as erythema nodosum
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Familial Mediterranean fever
- Stasis dermatitis
- Acute lipodermatosclerosis
- Thrombophlebitis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Lymphedema
- Calciphylaxis
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:12/06/2016
Last Updated:05/20/2019
Last Updated:05/20/2019