Definition
Infectious cellulitis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the skin and subcutaneous layers, especially the connective tissue.
Infectious cellulite also tends to spread to other areas of the body and - if not properly treated - can be life-threatening for patients.
Causes
Infectious cellulitis is caused by a "bacterial infection that involves the connective tissue.
The bacteria most involved in the "onset of this" inflammation in adults are Streptococcus pyogenes and it Staphylococcus aureus, including strains of Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant (MRSA).
In children, on the other hand, infectious cellulite can also be caused by beating Haemophilus influenzae.
Symptoms
The symptoms of infectious cellulitis occur in the area affected by the infection and consist of: swelling and redness of the skin, pain, warm and soft skin to the touch, and fever.
Furthermore, infectious cellulitis can undergo complications, with the formation of papulo-pustular lesions and the spread of bacteria in the lymphatic vessels and blood (bacteremia).
Finally, in some cases, the infection can reach the deeper layers of the skin, thus giving rise to necrotizing fasciitis.
The information on Infectious Cellulite - Medicines for the Treatment of Infectious Cellulite is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Infectious Cellulite - Medicines for the Treatment of Infectious Cellulite.
Medicines
Being a "bacterial infection, for the treatment of infectious cellulitis" he undertakes a treatment based on antibiotic drugs. The most commonly used active ingredients are penicillins administered orally or parenterally.
Furthermore, for the symptomatic treatment of pain caused by infectious cellulitis itself, the doctor may decide to administer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against infectious cellulite and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the active ingredient and dosage most suitable for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment.
Penicillins
As mentioned, penicillins are the first line treatment undertaken in the treatment of infectious cellulite. They can be administered both orally and parenterally.
Among the most used active ingredients, we find:
- Flucloxacillin (Flucef ®, Lixin ®, Flucacid ®): Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic belonging to the class of β-lactamase resistant penicillins and is available for intramuscular or oral administration. When administered through the latter route, the dose usually used in adult patients is 1 gram of active ingredient, to be taken every 6-8 hours.
- Benzylpenicillin (Benzylpenicillin potassium K24 Pharmaceuticals ®): Benzylpenicillin is one of the first natural penicillins to be discovered. It is administered intramuscularly or intravenously. The drug dose usually used in adult patients is 1-2 million units in divided doses over 24 hours.
- Amoxicillin (Augmentin ®, Zimox ®, Amox ®, Clavulin ®, Velamox ®): Amoxicillin is a broad spectrum penicillin available in pharmaceutical formulations suitable for oral and parenteral administration. When taken through the latter route, the dose of drug usually used in adult patients is 500-1,000 mg, to be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion, every 8-12 hours.
When, on the other hand, amoxicillin is administered orally, the dose usually used in adult patients is 500-1,000 mg, to be taken 2-3 times a day. - Ampicillin (Amplital ®): Ampicillin is also a broad spectrum penicillin available for oral and parenteral administration.
When taken orally, the dose of ampicillin usually given in adults is 2-3 grams per day in 2-3 divided doses.
Vancomycin
Vancomycin is a cyclic peptide with antibiotic activity, but it is not a first choice drug in the treatment of infectious cellulitis.
In fact, generally, the use of vancomycin (Levovanox ®) is reserved for the treatment of severe infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant. Therefore, this antibiotic could also be useful in the treatment of infectious cellulitis caused by MRSA.
It is available for intravenous and oral administration. The amount of vancomycin to be used, the route of administration to be used and the duration of treatment should be determined by the physician on an individual basis for each patient.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs are not used for the treatment of infectious cellulite per se, but for the symptomatic treatment of the pain caused by it due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Among the many active ingredients that can be used, we remember:
- Ketoprofen (Artrosilene ®, Orudis ®, Oki ®): the dose of ketoprofen usually administered orally is 150-200 mg per day, to be taken in 2-3 divided doses, preferably on a full stomach.
- Ibuprofen (Brufen ®, Moment ®, Nurofen ®, Arfen ®, Actigrip fever and pain ®, Vicks fever and pain ®): when ibuprofen is administered orally, the dose used should not exceed 1,200-1,800 mg of principle active per day. The exact amount of medicine to be taken by each patient will be determined by the physician on an individual basis.
.jpg)
