Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cellulitis is a non-necrotizing infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, hypodermis, and superficial fascia without muscular or deep fascia involvement. Lower limb cellulitis often results in prolonged hospital stay and long-term morbidity. Almost one-quarter of patients of lower limb cellulitis require hospitalization. The average duration of inpatient treatment for lower limb cellulitis is ten days. Long-term morbidity includes chronic Oedema and persistent leg ulceration and one-third will have a recurrence within three years. Cellulitis are mostly managed conservatively with limb elevation and antibiotics. Surgical intervention is required in case of local complications like abscess, necrotizing soft tissue infection, and systemic complications like severe sepsis with multi-organ affect. There is a lack of good evidence-based literature for the management of patient with lower limb cellulitis. It is an important healthcare issue due to the loss of work and economic burden for patients due to prolonged hospital stay and long-term morbidity.

Description