Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections Author: Dennis L. Stevens, PhD, MD; Lawrence J. Eron, MD, FACP
Editorial changes - 2009-11-03
Author information and module status
Prevention
Screening
Diagnosis
Consultation for Diagnosis
Hospitalization
Non-drug Therapy
Drug Therapy
Patient Education
Consultation for Management
Follow-up

Tables
Figures
References
Glossary
What's New
Patient Information
Additional Resources
Tools
Non-drug Therapy

Tailor non-drug therapy to the specific type of soft tissue infection. C

  • Provide scrupulous local wound care and debridement, as needed.
  • Utilize leg elevation, especially in patients with pedal edema.
  • Use compression dressings for the treatment of cellulitis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency or pedal edema.
  • Use negative pressure wound dressings for large wounds with considerable exudate.
  • Consider hyperbaric oxygen for infected diabetic foot ulcers and chronic osteomyelitis that fail to heal with conventional therapy.
  • Treat systemic illness as required by the clinical situation, including:
    • Fluid resuscitation for hypotension, azotemia, and metabolic acidosis
    • Pressors for those with severe hypotension who do not respond to fluids
    • Critical care monitoring, including placement of arterial and central venous catheters
    • Oxygen and mechanical ventilation, as needed
Background

FAQs
Dennis L. Stevens, PhD, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Lawrence J. Eron, MD, FACP has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD, Editor, PIER, has received grant support from Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd , and honoraria for continuing medical education grand rounds and lectures given.


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