What Antibiotic Is Used to Treat Cellulitis?

Like any other organ of the body, the skin is susceptible to infection from microbes. One such infection, cellulitis, occurs when bacteria from outside the skin enter the lower layers of the skin and begin to spread. Antibiotics are administered by mouth or intravenously to counter the infection, and the type of antibiotic used depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection.

Antibiotics are powerful allies against infection.

Skin Infections

The skin is in constant contact with the environment, so it is subject to infection from microorganisms like viruses, bacteria or fungi. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection in which the the skin tissues directly below the topmost layer of the skin are infected and destroyed. The skin may be red, warm to the touch and painful. Left untreated, cellulitis may spread to other parts of the body and cause a systemic infection. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial cellulitis.

Streptococcus

Streptococcus species of bacteria are commonly found on the skin as normal flora. When the bacteria enter the skin through a wound or a hair follicle, they cause an infection. According to the Merck Manual of Medical Information, antibiotics such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin may be taken by mouth. If the infection is more severe, or the patient does not tolerate the pills, intravenous oxacillin or nafcillin may be given.

Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus bacteria are also normal flora of the skin and infect through wounds or other openings in the skin. Treatment for staphylococcus is similar as that for streptococcus except when Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is suspected. MRSA is a strain of staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to penicillin-like drugs. For MRSA infections, vancomycin, clindamycin or doxycycline is used. Care must be taken to prevent the spread of MRSA infection to immune-compromised people.

Other Bacteria

Streptococcus and staphylococcus are gram-positive bacteria. They are different from gram-negative bacteria in their shape and cell wall properties. Cellulitis from gram-negative bacteria is mostly seen in people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or compromised immune systems. A class of antibiotics called cephalosporins are generally used against gram-negative bacteria. For both types of bacteria, wide-spectrum antibiotics such as azithromycin may be used.

Prevention

Preventing cellulitis is as simple as hand washing. This prevents the bacteria from colonizing the hands and spreading to other parts of the body. Properly cleaning, washing and dressing wounds also prevents any bacteria present in the wound from starting a serious infection. In all cases of suspected skin infection, only licensed health care providers may prescribe antibiotics or recommend a course of action to cure the infection.

References

• Merck Manual Home Edition
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology