CELLULITIS

Presented by Wendy Gerstein, MD

Thursday School

7/24/14

QUESTION 1

38 yo woman is evaluated in urgent care for redness and pus that developed near a scratch on her right shin. On PE: T=37.3 C, bp 135/75, p 78, rr 14. A 3x2 cm erythematous, warm patch is present over the right shin with associated purulence/pus, but no fluctuance, drainable abscess or lymphadenopathy is present. WBC is 10k with 70% N and 30% L. She has no drug allergies.

Which of the following is the most appropriate outpatient

therapy?• A) Cephalexin (Keflex)• B) Dicloxacillin• C) Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)• D) Amoxicillin

QUESTION 2

A 27 yo male is evaluated for redness that developed over his left forearm at the site of a mosquito bite. He is otherwise healthy and takes no medications. PE: T= 37.2 C, bp 120/70, p 68, rr 14. There is an erythematous 3x3 cm patch on the left forearm. The area is warm to the touch with no evidence of purulence, fluctuance, crepitus, or lymphadenopathy.Which of the following is the most appropriate empiric outpatient therapy?

• A) Doxycycline• B) Cephalexin (Keflex)• C) Fluconazole• D) Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)• E) Metronidazole

ANSWERS

Answer for question 1: C, Bactrim

Answer for question 2: B, Cephalexin (Keflex)

What is the one important difference between the

two cases?

CELLULITIS

CELLULITIS

Clinical presentation: local tenderness, pain and erythema that rapidly increases. Borders are not elevated or sharply demarcated (as in erysipelas). May have patchy involvement with skip areas.

Systemic manifestations include mild fever, chills and malaise, can progress to sepsis.

CELLULITIS

Complications can include bacteremia, abscesses, overlying skin necrosis, muscle/joint/bone involvement. Risk factors: lymphedema, chronic venous stasis, trauma, skin breakdown (fungal infection), diabetes, immunosuppression, altered anatomy/surgery.Patient who are showing systemic signs (i.e., meet SIRS criteria) should be admitted for initial treatment with IV antibiotics, then transition to appropriate oral therapy.

ORGANISMS

Most common organisms: streptococci (group A β-hemolytic [GABHS] most likely) and Staphylococcus aureus. Think strep if “peau d’orange” skin changes and lymphangitis are present.Think S. aureus (and CA-MRSA, MRSA) if purulence or abscess present.Erysipelas: superficial, well-demarcated, intensely erythematous, indurated borders. GABHS.

CELLULITIS

Post-operative infections with Group A strep are uncommon but can spread rapidly and develop into bacteremia/sepsis. Can occur within 6-48 hours after surgery.

• Hypotension may be the first signs of infection prior to cellulitis.

• Thin serous discharge may be expressed from the surgical site that is gram stain positive for streptococci.

CELLULITIS

Diabetics: at risk for polymicrobial infections

including:• GPC including S. aureus, Enterococcus,

various streptococcal species, peptostreptococcus (anaerobe).

• GN aerobes: Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas.

• GN anaerobes: Bacteroides

ANTIBIOTICS IN CELLULITIS

At minimum, need empiric coverage for strep species and S. aureus.

Include a β-lactam antibiotic with activity against penicillinase-producing S. aureus (MSSA).

If not severe may treat as outpatient. • Cephalexin or dicloxacillin have good strep and MSSA

coverage.

• Clindamycin may be used for strep and CA-MRSA (know local antibiogram).

• If suspect MRSA then consider TMP-SMX or doxycycline (can add clindamycin or amoxillin if need improved strep coverage). May also consider Linezolid.

ANTIBIOTICS CONT.Inpatient antibiotic choices:

• Strep/MSSA choices: nafcillin, cefazolin, clindamycin

• CA-MRSA/MRSA: clindamycin (know antibiogram), vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, ceftaroline.

• Diabetics: broaden to amp-sulbactam (moderate infection), pip/tazobactam (severe) plus MRSA coverage. Remember ceftriaxone does not have anaerobic coverage.

• Septic patient: start broad, then narrow coverage as cultures return.

CA-MRSA/MRSA

MRSA CELLULITIS GUIDELINES

For a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage is

the primary treatment.

When is adjunct antibiotic therapy recommend for

abscesses?• Severe or extensive (multiple sites) or rapid

progression in presence of cellulitis.• Signs of systemic illness.• Associated comorbidities or

immunosuppressed.• Extremes of age.

MRSA CELLULITIS GUIDELINES

• Abscess in area difficult to drain (face, hand and genitalia).

• Associated with septic phlebitis.• Lack of response to incision and

drainage.

MRSA CELLULITIS GUIDELINES

Treatment of purulent cellulitis:• Empiric treatment for CA-MRSA/MRSA.• Bactrim, clindamycin, doxycycline or

minocycline, linezolid.• If need MRSA and streptococcus coverage:

clindamycin; or bactrim or doxycycline with amoxicillin; or linezolid alone.

• If inpatient treat with IV antibiotics initially: vancomycin, clindamycin, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline.

AJM 2010;123:942-950

Retrospective cohort study in 2005-2007 comparing bactrim

to cephalexin to clindamycin for mild to moderate cellulitis.

405 patients in study:• Excluded patients with severe cellulitis.• MRSA recovered in 72/117 positive culture specimens.• Successful treatment

• TMP-SMX 138/152 (91%) • Cephalexin 134/180 (74%)• Clindamycin 34/40 (85%)

HOW LONG TO TREAT??

IDSA guidelines: five days of treatment is a effective as a 10 day course for uncomplicated cellulitis. Based on a 2004 study in which 87 patients were treated with levofloxacin 500mg po qd x 5 days compared with 43 patients who received levofloxacin for 10 days. Complete resolution on day 14 was similar and day 28 recurrence rate was similar.

However levofloxacin has a longer ½ life than β-lactam antibiotics that are used more commonly. IDSA recommends evaluation at day 5 – if resolved can stop antibiotics. If persisting, continue to 10 days.Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1169-1674.

PROPHYLAXIS FOR RECURRENT CELLULITIS

First identify and treat predisposing conditions (edema,

obesity, eczema, venous insufficiency, fungal foot infections).

Oral penicillin 250-500 mg po bid for one year should be

considered in patients who have >3 episodes per year

despite attempts to treat or control predisposing factors.

Can continue past one year (indefinitely) if factors persist

and patient tolerating.

IDSA guidelines, 2014. Based on two studies, PATCH 1 and

PATCH 2.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CELLULITIS

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (erysipeloid) – gram

positive facultative anaerobic rod. Causes an indolent

cellulitis occurring in persons who handle saltwater fish,

shellfish, poultry, meat and hides. Treat with penicillin or

cephalosporin.

Aeromonas hydrophila – gram negative rod that causes

an acute cellulitis after laceration while swimming in

fresh water. Also associated with medicinal leeches.

Treat with ciprofloxacin +/- doxycycline.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CELLULITIS

Vibrio vulnificus (curved gram negative rod) causes cellulitis, bullous lesions or necrotic ulcers after exposure to warm coastal water or exposure to drippings from raw seafood.

Infection can progress to necrosis requiring surgical debridement.

• Bacteremia with septicemia can occur after eating raw oysters, can develop associated skin findings.

• Alcoholic cirrhosis, hemochromatosis and thalassemia increase the risk of septicemia and development of necrotizing fasciitis (due to iron overload).

• Treat with doxycycline plus ceftriaxone.

E. RHUSIOPATHIAE AND VIBRIO

E. rhusiopathiae

Vibrio species

OTHER

Animal or human bite: • Clean wound, check tetanus status of patient,

rabies status of animal.• Usually polymicrobial infection due to mouth

and skin flora. • Empiric antibiotic coverage with Augmentin or

unasyn. • Penicillin allergic : fluoroquinolone or

doxycycline (plus clindamycin or metronidazole for anaerobic coverage).

Drugs 2003;63:1459-1480

IMMUNOS UPPRESSED (C ANC ER PATIENT S, A ID S, TRAN SPLAN T)

Differential for skin lesions much broader in this

subset – biopsy is necessary is most cases, get early

if possible.

Need to consider infection, drug reaction/eruption,

Sweet syndrome, malignancy, leukocytoclastic

vasculitis, erythema multiforme.

QUESTION 3

40 yo male evaluated in ER for LUE skin infection. He works at

the VA, where he sustained a minor laceration 3 days ago when

trying to prevent a patient’s fall. He cleaned and bandaged the

laceration but developed purulence, surrounding tenderness, and

now with fever over last 24 hours. On exam T=38.5, bp 125/75, p

90, rr 18. An area of purulent cellulitis measuring 4x5 cm

surrounding a 1.5 cm laceration is present. No fluctuance. Rest of

exam wnl. WBC 14k, 90% neutrophils. UA nl. Radiograph of arm

only shows soft tissue swelling.

QUESTION 3 CONTINUED

Which of the following beta-lactam antibiotics is

most appropriate for treatment of this infection?• A) Meropenem• B) Oxacillin• C) Zosyn (pip/tazobactam)• D) Ceftaroline• E) Ceftriaxone

QUESTION 3 CONTINUED

Correct answer is D, ceftaroline – need MRSA

coverage due to purulence, health-care associated.

Vancomycin would have been correct if offered as a

choice.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Deep tissue infection that spreads rapidly along fascial planes.Clinical features that suggest a necrotizing infection include:

• Severe constant pain, pain out of proportion to exam.• Bullae: related to occlusion of deep blood vessels that

traverse the fascia or muscles.• Skin necrosis or ecchymosis that precedes the skin necrosis.• Gas in the soft tissues.• Edema that extends beyond the margin of the erythema.• Cutaneous anesthesia.• Systemic toxicity (fever, leukocytosis, delirium, renal failure).• Rapid spread, especially concerning if on antibiotic therapy.• Subcutaneous tissues feels wooden-hard.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Type I- Polymicrobial• Includes at least one anaerobic species, commonly

Bacteroides or Peptostreptococcus;• Plus one or more facultative anaerobic species such as

streptococci;• Plus members of Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, Enterobacter,

Klebsiella, Proteus. • Associated with:

• Surgical procedures involving the bowel or penetrating abdominal trauma.

• Decubitus ulcer or a perianal abscess.• Site of injection in IVDA.• Spread from a Bartholin abscess or minor vulvovaginal

infection.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Type II (aka hemolytic streptococcal gangrene): Group A streptococci are isolated either alone or with S. aureus

• Usually involves the limbs with 2/3 in the lower extremities.

• Associated with underlying disease:• DM• Arteriosclerotic vascular disease• Venous insufficiency with edema• Chronic vascular ulcer• Post varicella infection – commonly due to S.

pyogenes• Mortality is high- 50-70% in patients with

hypotension and organ failure. Lancet 1994;344:1111-5

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Type III- Gram negative monomicrobial• Vibrio spp

• V. damselae and V. vulnificus

• Mortality of 30-40% despite prompt diagnosis and aggressive therapy. (J of Hos Infec 2010;75:249-257)

Type IV- Fungal• Cases of candida NF very rare, mostly in immunocompromised.

• Zygomycotic NF (Mucor and Rhizopus spp) affect immunocompetent patients after severe trauma.

• Burns or trauma wounds with aspergillus or zygomycetes should be consider infected (not just colonized). (J of Hos Infec 2010;75:249-257

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Determinants of mortality• Retrospective study in 2005 in Taiwan. • Studied both type I and type II necrotizing fasciitis.

• 87 pts. Found increased mortality with:• Age >60• 2 comorbidities, especially DM and liver disease• Thrombocytopenia• Abnormal liver function tests• Increased BUN and Cr• Low serum albumin level

• Patients who underwent emergent debridement in <24 hours had a lower mortality than patients whose surgery was delayed (26% vs 45.9%).

• Total of 30/87 patients died in this study (34.4%).• J Micro Imm Infect 2005;38:430-435

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Studies• CT scan or MRI may show edema and/or gas

extending along the fascial plane. • In practice, clinical judgment is the most

important element of diagnosis.• Cultures obtained from deep tissue during

surgery are helpful.• Skin cultures usually contaminated with skin

flora.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Treatment:

• Surgical intervention:• No response to antibiotic therapy.

• Profound toxicity with fever, hypotension, or advancement of skin and soft-tissue infection during antibiotic therapy.

• Local wound shows any necrosis with easy dissection along fascia by blunt instrument.

• Any soft tissue infection accompanied by gas.

• Most patients with necrotizing fasciitis should return to the OR within 24-36 hours after first debridement and daily thereafter until surgical team finds no further need for debridement.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Empiric coverage: very broad• Piperacillin-tazobactam , plus vancomycin OR• Meropenem/imipenem plus vancomycin.• PCN allergy: Cefotaxime, plus metronidazole or

clindamycin, plus vancomycin.• Severe PCN allergy: clindamycin or metronidazole,

plus aminoglycoside or fluoroquinolone, plus vancomycin.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

Streptococci infections• PCN: most streptococci are susceptible in the

US.• Clindamycin: in vitro studies demonstrate both

toxin suppression and modulation of cytokine TNF production.

• Give both initially.

NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

IVIG – not enough evidence to recommend therapy.

HBO – hyperbaric oxygen – not enough evidence to

recommend therapy.

Questions…