Cellulitis: Treatment Overview

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Treatment Overview

The intent of cellulitis treatment is to decrease the severity of the infection, speed up recovery, relieve pain and other symptoms, heal the skin, and prevent the infection from coming back.

Antibiotics are usually used to treat cellulitis. If the infection is limited to a small area, has not spread to the bloodstream or lymph system, and you don't have any other medical problems, antibiotics you take by mouth (oral) are effective. If the infection is more widespread, or if you're having a slow recovery on oral antibiotics, antibiotics may be used intravenously (IV) or by injection.

For cellulitis of the leg or arm, treatment also includes elevating the limb to reduce swelling.

Treatment for children depends on their age and which part of the body is infected. An antibiotic is usually given intravenously. Facial cellulitis in young children requires immediate treatment and responds well to antibiotics.²

Treatment sometimes requires a stay in the hospital. This is common if antibiotics must be given intravenously, but it is also considered if you have signs of complications such as a high fever, or if it will be difficult for you to have follow-up care with a health professional.

Medications used to treat cellulitis

Oral, topical (applied to the skin), or intravenous antibiotics may be used to treat cellulitis. The extent of the infection and its location help determine what type of antibiotic is used.

• Oral antibiotics include penicillin or a similar medication such as dicloxacillin. For people who are allergic to penicillin, a cephalosporin, erythromycin, or vancomycin can be used.
• Topical antibiotics including mupirocin may be used for children with cellulitis in the area around the anus.³
• Intravenous antibiotics may include nafcillin, levofloxacin, or cephalosporin.

Preventing a recurrence of cellulitis

Cellulitis tends to recur in people with certain medical conditions that can lead to skin breakdown, such as edema (fluid buildup), fungal or bacterial infections, diabetes, or peripheral arterial disease.

• If you have edema, support stockings and good skin hygiene may reduce or eliminate recurrence of cellulitis.⁴
• If you develop frequent fungal infections, regular use of antifungal medications may help reduce recurrent cellulitis.
• If you are considered very high risk for recurring cellulitis, taking preventive antibiotics may help. With preventive antibiotics, most people take a dose of antibiotics every 2 weeks.⁵

Last updated:	March 22, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC