Cellulitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue underlying the skin , that can be caused by a bacterial infection. It often begins in an area of broken skin, like a cut or scratch, when bacteria invade and spread, causing inflammation, pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. Staphylococcus bacteria can also cause cellulitis, as can many other bacteria, especially after bites by humans or animals or after injuries in water or dirt. Cellulitis may be superficial affecting only the surface of your skin but cellulitis may also affect the tissues underlying your skin and can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream. Unlike impetigo , which is a very superficial skin infection, cellulitis refers to an infection involving the skin's deeper layers; the dermis and subcutaneous tissue Left untreated, the spreading bacterial infection may rapidly turn into a life-threatening condition. That's why it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms of cellulitis and to seek immediate medical attention if they occur.

The word cellulitis literally means inflammation of the cells. The infection usually involves the face, or the arms and legs. Cellulitis can be caused by normal skin flora or by exogenous bacteria , and often occurs where the skin has previously been broken cracks in the skin, cuts, burns , insect bites , surgical wounds, or sites of intravenous catheter insertion. It may happen in normal skin, but it usually occurs after some type of trauma causes an opening in your skin. Bacteria usually enter through small breaks in the epidermis that result from scrapes, punctures, burns, and skin disorders such as dermatitis (see Itching and Noninfectious Rashes: Dermatitis ) Areas of the skin that become swollen with fluid (edema) are especially vulnerable. The main bacteria involved in cellulitis is Staphylococcus ("staph"), the same bacteria that causes many cases of impetigo. Occasionally, other bacteria may cause cellulitis as well.

Causes of Cellulitis

The common Causes of Cellulitis :

Infections related to a surgical procedure
Injuries that break the skin
Foreign objects in the skin
Any breaks in the skin that allow bacteria to invade the skin (examples are chronic skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis )
Infection of bone underneath the skin (An example is a long-standing open wound that is deep enough to expose the bone to bacteria. Sometimes this occurs in people with diabetes who cannot feel their feet.)
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Group A B - hemolytic streptococcus
Streptococcus pyogenes

Symptoms of Cellulitis

Some Symptoms of Cellulitis :

Fever
Tenderness
Swelling of the skin
Warmth over the area of redness
Headache
Chills
Localized skin redness or inflammation that increases in size as the infection spreads
Pain or tenderness of the area
Bruising

Treatment of Cellulitis

Oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics
Warm, wet dressings on the infection site
Surgical intervention
If you have an extremity (arm or leg) that is affected, your physician may have you elevate the extremity and decrease the amount of activity
Rest
Based on the physical examination, your physician may treat you in the hospital, depending onthe severity of the cellulitis. In the hospital, you may receive antibiotics and fluids through an intravenous (IV) catheter.
In all cases systemic antibiotics will be required. Most of the time oral antibiotics are required even for the milder cases.

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