Rachel Bystritsky, MD; Henry Chambers, MD
CME Objective: To review current evidence for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and practice improvement of cellulitis and soft tissue infections.
Funding Source: American College of Physicians.
Disclosures: Dr. Chambers, ACP Contributing Author, reports grants and other from Allergan and grants from The Medicines Company outside the submitted work. Dr. Bystritsky, ACP Contributing Author, has nothing to disclose. Disclosures can also be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M17-2613.
Acknowledgment: The authors thank Lawrence J. Eron, author of the previous version of this In the Clinic.
With the assistance of additional physician writers, the editors of Annals of Internal Medicine develop In the Clinic using MKSAP and other resources of the American College of Physicians.
In the Clinic does not necessarily represent official ACP clinical policy. For ACP clinical guidelines, please go to https://www.acponline.org/clinical_information/guidelines/.
Editors' Disclosures: Christine Laine, MD, MPH, Editor in Chief, reports that she has no financial relationships or interests to disclose. Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD, Executive Deputy Editor, reports that he has no financial relationships or interests to disclose. Cynthia D. Mulrow, MD, MSc, Senior Deputy Editor, reports that she has no relationships or interests to disclose. Deborah Cotton, MD, MPH, Deputy Editor, reports that she has no financial relationships or interest to disclose. Jaya K. Rao, MD, MHS, Deputy Editor, reports that she has stock holdings/options in Eli Lilly and Pfizer. Sankey V. Williams, MD, Deputy Editor, reports that he has no financial relationships or interests to disclose. Catharine B. Stack, PhD, MS, Deputy Editor for Statistics, reports that she has stock holdings in Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Cellulitis and soft tissue infections are a diverse group of diseases that range from uncomplicated cellulitis to necrotizing fasciitis. Management of predisposing conditions is the primary means of prevention. Cellulitis is a clinical diagnosis and thus is made on the basis of history and physical examination. Imaging may be helpful for characterizing purulent soft tissue infections and associated osteomyelitis. Treatment varies according to the type of infection. The foundations of treatment are drainage of purulence and antibiotics, the latter targeted at the infection's most likely cause.
Bystritsky R, Chambers H. Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections. Ann Intern Med. 2018;168:ITC17–ITC32. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC201802060
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© 2019
Published: Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(3):ITC17-ITC32.
DOI: 10.7326/AITC201802060
Cardiology, Coronary Risk Factors, Diabetes, Emergency Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolism.
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