How is cellulitis spread

It isn't usually spread from person to person. It's important to identify and treat cellulitis early because the condition can spread rapidly throughout your body. Cellulitis occurs when bacteria, most commonly streptococcus and staphylococcus, enter through a crack or break in your skin. The incidence of a more serious staphylococcus infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA is increasing. Although cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body, the most common location is the lower leg.

Bacteria are most likely to enter disrupted areas of skin, such as where you've had recent surgery, cuts, puncture wounds, an ulcer, athlete's foot or dermatitis.

Animal bites can cause cellulitis. Bacteria can also enter through areas of dry, flaky skin or swollen skin. Recurrent episodes of cellulitis may damage the lymphatic drainage system and cause chronic swelling of the affected limb. Rarely, the infection can spread to the deep layer of tissue called the fascial lining. Necrotizing fasciitis is an example of a deep-layer infection.

It's an extreme emergency. If your cellulitis recurs, your doctor may recommend preventive antibiotics. To help prevent cellulitis and other infections, take these precautions when you have a skin wound:. Dean Giannone answered. Internal Medicine 25 years experience. It's superficial and treatable with antibiotics , either topical or oral. Some infections can be very severe MRSA , so don't take cellulitis lightly.

See a doctor if you have symptoms of redness, warmth and tenderness of an area of your skin, especially if you have fever , chills or sweats. A Verified Doctor answered. A US doctor answered Learn more. Cellulitis: Cellulitis is infection of skin and underneath subcutaneous tissue caused by bacteria commonly due to staphylococcus or streptococcus. Martin Tyson answered. Addiction Medicine 27 years experience. Infection: Skin infection - red, warm, tender , fever sometimes. Many Causes: Cellulitis is an inflammation red, hot swollen and tender of the skin and soft tissues.

It can be cause by many things such as bacteria , sunburn , vein disease and trauma all of which have different treatments. Depending on where it occurs and what is the cause, changes the treatment. If you keep having recurrences, the treatments are wrong, seek another opinion.

Infection of skin. Mark Pack answered. General Surgery 31 years experience. Inflammation: Cellulitis is redness and inflammation of the skin. Often associated with infection. May need treated with antibiotics. See your doctor. Diane Minich answered. Family Medicine 37 years experience. Cellulitis is: Inflammation of skin cells usually from an infection. You would need to see a doctor and may need antibiotics to treat it. Robert Kwok answered. Skin infection: Cellulitis is infection and inflammation redness, tenderness, swelling of the skin.

When antibiotics are used, a bacterial skin infection goes away over a week, if the person is healthy and the bacteria are not resistant to the medication. Slow healing or persistent inflammation means a return visit to the doctor is needed, to see if there is another underlying condition for the infection. Steven Brown answered. An infection of the skin and soft tissues. The involved area maybe tender , warm and erythematous. Multiple different bacteria are capable of causing a cellulitis and antibiotics are indicated for its treatment.

Related questions A year-old male asked:. I got left big toe cellulitis. How i gonna to treat it or need to avoid any food? Learn about necrotizing fasciitis. People can get cellulitis more than once. Having cellulitis does not protect someone from getting it again in the future. While there is no vaccine to prevent cellulitis or group A strep infections in general, there are things you can do to protect yourself and others. Common sense and good wound care are the best ways to prevent bacterial skin infections, including cellulitis.

These infections should be treated since they can cause breaks in the skin that can lead to cellulitis. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Cellulitis: All You Need to Know. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Breaks in the Skin Allow Bacteria to Enter Anyone can get cellulitis, but some factors can increase the risk of getting this infection.

Antibiotics Are Needed Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics. Complications Are Uncommon, but Can Be Serious Complications from cellulitis are uncommon but can include serious infections in the following locations: Blood bacteremia Joints suppurative arthritis Bone osteomyelitis Lining of the chambers of the heart and heart valves endocarditis Cellulitis can cause vein swelling if blood clots form close to the skin thrombophlebitis.

Protect Yourself and Others People can get cellulitis more than once.