Cellulitis
Infectious Disease · ~7% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Bacterial infection of the dermis & subcutaneous tissue (Strep pyogenes, Staph aureus).
- Signs & Symptoms
- Spreading erythema, warmth, swelling, tenderness; ± fever; poorly demarcated borders.
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis; cultures not routinely recommended.
- First-line Treatment
- Non-purulent: cephalexin (strep coverage); purulent/MRSA risk: TMP-SMX or doxycycline.
High-Yield Pearl
Sharply demarcated raised borders = erysipelas (superficial); purulence → cover MRSA.
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Immunology & Genetics
Sources
Reviewed September 2026- Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 2014 Update — Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2014
- StatPearls: Cellulitis — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
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