Picking The Right Antibiotic: Cellulitis

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to providing a practical guide to how one should pick the correct antibiotic(s) to use in the setting of cellulitis.

AT WHAT POINT DO WE DECIDE THE PATIENT NEEDS TREATMENT?

In thinking about cellulitis, it is important to appreciate that really the physical exam will be useful in identifying the affected area, and will inform our decisions to start the patient on antibiotic treatment.

Dermal infections can be seen readily on the physical exam, and warrant some thought in deciding the appropriate treatment (source)
Cellulitis can be seen readily on the physical exam, and warrant some thought in deciding the appropriate treatment (source)
WHAT ARE OUR BROAD SPECTRUM TREATMENT OPTIONS?

While cultures may be collected before that start of treatment, it is important to appreciate that bacterial cultures take time to grow, often get contaminated, and that they may not always identify a single pathogen. It is for this reason that typically patients are started on broad spectrum antibiotics (which then can be modified as the results of cultures come back).

 

HOW DO OUR CULTURE RESULTS MODIFY OUR TREATMENT?

Tailoring treatment ultimately depends on which pathogen is isolated in the bacterial cultures.

 

Page Updated: 09.10.2016