Zapalenie skóry
Rokowania, prognozy i postęp choroby

Zapalenie skóry (cellulitis) to bakteryjne zakażenie skóry i tkanki podskórnej, które przy wczesnym rozpoznaniu i odpowiednim leczeniu ma zazwyczaj dobre rokowanie. Terapia antybiotykowa przynosi poprawę u większości pacjentów w ciągu 7-10 dni, a objawy mogą ustępować już po 48 godzinach od rozpoczęcia leczenia. Mimo to, około 18% przypadków wykazuje niepowodzenie początkowej terapii. Śmiertelność 30-dniowa wynosi około 3,9%, co jest wyższe niż wcześniejsze szacunki (1,1-2,5%). Nawrót zapalenia skóry występuje u 8-20% pacjentów w ciągu roku, a wskaźnik ponownych hospitalizacji w ciągu 30 dni od wypisu sięga 26%. Skale predykcyjne, takie jak BRRISC (indeks C = 0,65), RAMA-NFB (dokładność 82,93%) oraz ALT-70 i NEW HAvUN, umożliwiają ocenę ryzyka nawrotów i powikłań, co pozwala na lepsze dostosowanie leczenia i monitorowania pacjentów. BRRISC uwzględnia m.in. wiek, częstość akcji serca, poziom mocznika, płytki krwi, albuminy, wcześniejsze epizody zapalenia skóry, niewydolność żylną i chorobę wątroby, a RAMA-NFB – wiek ≥65 lat, BMI ≥30 kg/m², cukrzycę, gorączkę, niskie ciśnienie skurczowe i zajęcie kończyn dolnych.

Rokowanie w zapaleniu skóry (Cellulitis)

Zapalenie skóry (cellulitis) to bakteryjne zakażenie skóry i tkanki podskórnej, które przy wczesnym rozpoznaniu i właściwym leczeniu ma zazwyczaj dobre rokowanie. Większość pacjentów odczuwa poprawę po 7-10 dniach terapii1. Jednakże ważne jest, aby traktować tę chorobę poważnie i rozpocząć leczenie niezwłocznie, ponieważ nieleczone zapalenie skóry może szybko postępować i prowadzić do poważniejszych stanów. Bakterie mogą rozprzestrzenić się do krwiobiegu (bakteriemia) lub serca (zapalenie wsierdzia), co może być śmiertelne2.

Wskaźniki śmiertelności i nawrotów

Badania wskazują, że 30-dniowa śmiertelność pacjentów z zapaleniem skóry wynosi około 3,9% i nie różni się istotnie od innych zakażeń3. Jest to interesujące odkrycie, ponieważ wcześniejsze badania wskazywały na ogólnie niższą śmiertelność w zapaleniu skóry (1,1-2,5%)4. Warto zauważyć, że połowa pacjentów z zapaleniem skóry zostaje wypisana do domu w ciągu dwóch dni hospitalizacji5.

Roczny wskaźnik nawrotów zapalenia skóry występuje u około 8-20% pacjentów, przy czym ogólne wskaźniki nawrotów mogą sięgać nawet 49%6. Badania pokazują, że w ciągu 30 dni od wypisu ze szpitala, około 26% pacjentów z zapaleniem skóry jest ponownie przyjmowanych7. Ten wskaźnik wydaje się nieco wyższy w porównaniu do pacjentów z innymi zakażeniami, jednak różnica nie jest statystycznie istotna8.

Skuteczność leczenia

Jeśli lekarz szybko zidentyfikuje zapalenie skóry i rozpocznie leczenie odpowiednim antybiotykiem, pacjenci mogą spodziewać się poprawy objawów w ciągu 48 godzin9. Należy jednak zauważyć, że istnieje około 18% wskaźnik niepowodzenia początkowego leczenia antybiotykami10.

Wiele przypadków zapalenia skóry i zakażeń skóry i tkanek miękkich (SSTI) można leczyć ambulatoryjnie doustnymi antybiotykami i nie powodują one trwałych następstw. Stan większości pacjentów dobrze reaguje na antybiotyki doustne. Gdy terapia ambulatoryjna jest nieskuteczna lub w przypadku pacjentów wymagających początkowego przyjęcia do szpitala, antybiotyki dożylne są zwykle skuteczne11.

Czynniki ryzyka i skale predykcyjne

Skala BRRISC

Ryzyko nawrotu zapalenia skóry znacznie różni się w zależności od indywidualnych czynników pacjenta, które zostały ujęte w skali Baseline Recurrence Risk in Cellulitis (BRRISC). Model opracowany na podstawie 4938 pacjentów leczonych przez medianę 8 dni (IQR 6-11) wykazał, że 8,8% (n = 436) doświadczyło nawrotu związanego z hospitalizacją12.

Skala ryzyka wykorzystująca osiem zmiennych (wiek, częstość akcji serca, mocznik, płytki krwi, albuminy, wcześniejsze zapalenie skóry, niewydolność żylna i choroba wątroby) wahała się od 0 do 15, z indeksem C = 0,65 (95% CI: 0,63-0,68). Kategoryzując jako niskie (wynik 0-1), średnie (2-5) i wysokie (6-15) ryzyko, nawrót wzrastał czterokrotnie: 3,2% (95% CI: 2,3-4,4%), 9,7% (8,7-10,8%) i 16,6% (13,3-20,4%). Wydajność utrzymywała się w próbie walidacyjnej (indeks C = 0,63 (95% CI: 0,58-0,67))13.

Skala RAMA-NFB

Skala predykcyjna RAMA-NFB została opracowana do przewidywania powikłań zapalenia skóry, takich jak martwicze zapalenie powięzi i bakteriemia. Skala ta ma dokładność 82,93% (95% CI, 0,77-0,89). Pacjenci w grupie wysokiego ryzyka (wynik RAMA NFB ≥6) mają współczynnik prawdopodobieństwa 8,75 (95% CI, 4,41-18,12; p≤0,001) razy większe ryzyko rozwoju powikłań zapalenia skóry14.

Skala RAMA-NFB uwzględnia sześć zmiennych:

  • Wiek ≥65 lat
  • Wskaźnik masy ciała ≥30 kg/m²
  • Cukrzyca
  • Podwyższona temperatura ciała
  • Niskie ciśnienie tętnicze skurczowe
  • Zajęcie kończyn dolnych

15

Zaletą skali RAMA-NFB jest to, że nie wymaga badań laboratoryjnych, co ułatwia jej implementację i stosowanie w oddziałach ratunkowych o różnym stopniu zasobów16.

Skala ALT-70

Reguła predykcyjna ALT-70 została zwalidowana prospektywnie i przewyższała obrazowanie termiczne w diagnozowaniu zapalenia skóry kończyn dolnych w oddziale ratunkowym17. Przy ogólnym prawdopodobieństwie zapalenia skóry w badanej grupie wynoszącym 69%, tylko 9,1% pacjentów z wynikiem 0-2 miało zapalenie skóry, w porównaniu z 80,4% pacjentów z wynikiem 3-718.

Należy zauważyć, że reguła predykcyjna ALT-70 ma zastosowanie tylko do zapalenia skóry kończyn dolnych i nie ma zastosowania u pacjentów po operacji w ciągu ostatnich 30 dni, z urazem penetrującym, wszczepionym sprzętem w miejscu zakażenia, oparzeniami, owrzodzeniami cukrzycowymi, ropniem, znaną historią zapalenia szpiku kostnego lub stosowaniem antybiotyków dożylnych w ciągu 48 godzin przed wizytą w oddziale ratunkowym19.

Skala NEW HAvUN

Inna siedmiopunktowa reguła predykcyjna, NEW HAvUN, została opracowana na podstawie retrospektywnego przeglądu kart 57 pacjentów z podejrzeniem zapalenia skóry, których ostateczna diagnoza po konsultacji dermatologicznej była zapaleniem skóry vs. zapaleniem skóry zastoinowym lub lipodermatosklerozą20.

Pozytywny wynik dla czterech z siedmiu składników (ostry początek krótszy niż trzy dni, rumień, gorączka powyżej 100,4°F [38°C], historia urazu, tkliwość, jednostronność i liczba białych krwinek większa niż 10 000 na μL [10 × 10⁹ na L]) był wysoce czuły (100%) i swoisty (95%) dla zapalenia skóry, ale potrzebna jest prospektywna walidacja z pełnym zakresem potencjalnych alternatywnych rozpoznań21.

Zapobieganie nawrotom

Nawroty zapalenia skóry można zapobiegać poprzez szybkie leczenie ran ciętych lub otarć, właściwą higienę rąk, a także skuteczne leczenie wszelkich współistniejących chorób22. Potrzebne są dalsze badania w celu optymalizacji skali BRRISC, z uwzględnieniem zmiennych wyjściowych i odpowiedzi na leczenie, które nie zostały uchwycone w danych EHR, oraz ustalenia użyteczności podejść opartych na ryzyku w celu ustalenia optymalnego czasu trwania antybiotykoterapii23.

Powikłania

Zapalenie skóry może postępować do poważnej choroby poprzez niekontrolowane rozprzestrzenianie się, w tym przez układ limfatyczny lub krążeniowy. Związane z tym stany lub powikłania obejmują zapalenie naczyń limfatycznych, tworzenie się ropni, a w rzadkich przypadkach zgorzelowe zapalenie skóry lub martwicze zapalenie powięzi24.

Niektóre gatunki bakterii, zwłaszcza paciorkowce grupy A beta-hemolizujące (GABHS) i S. aureus, wytwarzają toksyny, które mogą pośredniczyć w cięższym zakażeniu ogólnoustrojowym, prowadzącym do wstrząsu septycznego i śmierci25. W skrajnych przypadkach zapalenie skóry może prowadzić do niewydolności wielonarządowej i śmierci26.

Wnioski

Ogólnie rzecz biorąc, zapalenie skóry ma dobre rokowanie przy odpowiednim i wczesnym leczeniu27. Czas hospitalizacji pacjentów z zapaleniem skóry jest o 18% krótszy, co skutkuje jednym dniem mniej hospitalizacji w porównaniu do pacjentów z innym rozpoznaniem infekcyjnym, chociaż nie stwierdzono istotności statystycznej28.

Należy jednak pamiętać, że około 30% osób przyjętych do szpitala w celu leczenia zapalenia skóry jest błędnie zdiagnozowanych, co prowadzi do niepotrzebnych hospitalizacji i dożylnej antybiotykoterapii29. Stosowanie odpowiednich skal predykcyjnych, takich jak BRRISC, RAMA-NFB, ALT-70 czy NEW HAvUN, może pomóc w poprawie dokładności diagnostycznej i identyfikacji pacjentów o wysokim ryzyku powikłań lub nawrotów, co może prowadzić do lepszego zarządzania terapią i poprawy wyników leczenia.

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  1. 16.04.2026
  2. www.leksykon.com.pl

Materiały źródłowe

  • #1 Cellulitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Recovery
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15071-cellulitis
    With early diagnosis and treatment, the outlook for people with cellulitis is good. Most people feel better after seven to 10 days. […] It’s very important to take cellulitis seriously and get treatment right away. Cellulitis can quickly progress and lead to more severe conditions. The bacteria could spread to your bloodstream (bacteremia) or heart (endocarditis), which may be fatal.
  • #2 Cellulitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Recovery
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15071-cellulitis
    With early diagnosis and treatment, the outlook for people with cellulitis is good. Most people feel better after seven to 10 days. […] It’s very important to take cellulitis seriously and get treatment right away. Cellulitis can quickly progress and lead to more severe conditions. The bacteria could spread to your bloodstream (bacteremia) or heart (endocarditis), which may be fatal.
  • #3 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #4 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #5 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #6 Cellulitis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549770/
    If the clinician promptly identifies cellulitis and initiates treatment with the correct antibiotic, patients can expect to notice an improvement in signs and symptoms within 48 hours. […] Annual recurrence of cellulitis occurs in about 8 to 20% of patients, with overall reoccurrence rates reaching as high as 49%. […] Recurrence is preventable with prompt treatment of cuts or abrasions, proper hand hygiene, as well as effectively treating any underlying comorbidities. […] There is approximately an 18% failure rate with initial antibiotic treatment. […] Overall, cellulitis has a good prognosis.
  • #7 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #8 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #9 Cellulitis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549770/
    If the clinician promptly identifies cellulitis and initiates treatment with the correct antibiotic, patients can expect to notice an improvement in signs and symptoms within 48 hours. […] Annual recurrence of cellulitis occurs in about 8 to 20% of patients, with overall reoccurrence rates reaching as high as 49%. […] Recurrence is preventable with prompt treatment of cuts or abrasions, proper hand hygiene, as well as effectively treating any underlying comorbidities. […] There is approximately an 18% failure rate with initial antibiotic treatment. […] Overall, cellulitis has a good prognosis.
  • #10 Cellulitis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549770/
    If the clinician promptly identifies cellulitis and initiates treatment with the correct antibiotic, patients can expect to notice an improvement in signs and symptoms within 48 hours. […] Annual recurrence of cellulitis occurs in about 8 to 20% of patients, with overall reoccurrence rates reaching as high as 49%. […] Recurrence is preventable with prompt treatment of cuts or abrasions, proper hand hygiene, as well as effectively treating any underlying comorbidities. […] There is approximately an 18% failure rate with initial antibiotic treatment. […] Overall, cellulitis has a good prognosis.
  • #11 Cellulitis: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214222-overview
    Many cases of cellulitis and SSTI can be treated on an outpatient basis with oral antibiotics and do not result in lasting sequelae. Most patients conditions respond well to oral antibiotics. When outpatient therapy is unsuccessful, or for patients who require admission initially, IV antibiotics are usually effective. […] Cellulitis may progress to serious illness by uncontrolled contiguous spread, including via the lymphatic or circulatory systems. Associated conditions or complications include lymphangitis, abscess formation, and, rarely, gangrenous cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis. Certain species, most notably group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) and S aureus, produce toxins that may mediate a more severe systemic infection, leading to septic shock and death.
  • #12 Development and validation of the Baseline Recurrence Risk in Cellulitis (BRRISC) score
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11832457/
    Cellulitis is often treated with antibiotics for longer than recommended by guidelines. Prolonged therapy may reduce recurrence in certain patients, but it is not known which patients are at greatest risk. Our objective was to develop and temporally validate a risk prediction score to identify patients attending hospital with cellulitis at highest risk of recurrence. […] The final model included 4938 patients treated for median 8 days (IQR 6-11); 8.8% (n = 436) experienced hospitalisation-associated recurrence. A risk score using eight variables (age, heart rate, urea, platelets, albumin, previous cellulitis, venous insufficiency, and liver disease) ranged from 0-15, with C-index = 0.65 (95%CI: 0.63-0.68). Categorising as low (score 0-1), medium (2-5) and high (6-15) risk, recurrence increased fourfold; 3.2% (95%CI: 2.3-4.4%), 9.7% (8.7-10.8%), and 16.6% (13.3-20.4%). Performance was maintained in the validation sample (C-index = 0.63 (95%CI: 0.58-0.67)).
  • #13 Development and validation of the Baseline Recurrence Risk in Cellulitis (BRRISC) score
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11832457/
    Cellulitis is often treated with antibiotics for longer than recommended by guidelines. Prolonged therapy may reduce recurrence in certain patients, but it is not known which patients are at greatest risk. Our objective was to develop and temporally validate a risk prediction score to identify patients attending hospital with cellulitis at highest risk of recurrence. […] The final model included 4938 patients treated for median 8 days (IQR 6-11); 8.8% (n = 436) experienced hospitalisation-associated recurrence. A risk score using eight variables (age, heart rate, urea, platelets, albumin, previous cellulitis, venous insufficiency, and liver disease) ranged from 0-15, with C-index = 0.65 (95%CI: 0.63-0.68). Categorising as low (score 0-1), medium (2-5) and high (6-15) risk, recurrence increased fourfold; 3.2% (95%CI: 2.3-4.4%), 9.7% (8.7-10.8%), and 16.6% (13.3-20.4%). Performance was maintained in the validation sample (C-index = 0.63 (95%CI: 0.58-0.67)).
  • #14 Factors and clinical prediction score for complication development after cellulitis diagnosis in adult patients | International Journal of Emergency Medicine | Full Text
    https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-024-00646-w
    Cellulitis is defined as a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that can cause multiple complications, such as sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. In extreme cases, it may lead to multiorgan failure and death. […] Our predictive score has an accuracy of 82.93% (95% CI, 0.770.89). Patients in the high-risk group (RAMA NFB score6) have a likelihood ratio of 8.75 (95% CI, 4.4118.12; p0.001) times to develop complications of cellulitis. […] In our study, the RAMA-NFB Prediction Score predicts complications of necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia in adult patients who present with cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB Prediction Score shows AuROC 82.93% (with 95% CI, 76.9888.89). This indicates good correlation of the six identified variables (age65 years, Body Mass Index30 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus, elevated body temperature, low systolic blood pressure, and involvement of the lower extremities) to predict complications of bacteremia or necrotizing fasciitis following a diagnosis of cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB score allows for early decision making in diagnosis, disposition, and treatment. Furthermore, the clinical score does not require laboratory testing, thus making implementation easy to use and applicable to Emergency Departments with varying degrees of resources.
  • #15 Factors and clinical prediction score for complication development after cellulitis diagnosis in adult patients | International Journal of Emergency Medicine | Full Text
    https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-024-00646-w
    Cellulitis is defined as a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that can cause multiple complications, such as sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. In extreme cases, it may lead to multiorgan failure and death. […] Our predictive score has an accuracy of 82.93% (95% CI, 0.770.89). Patients in the high-risk group (RAMA NFB score6) have a likelihood ratio of 8.75 (95% CI, 4.4118.12; p0.001) times to develop complications of cellulitis. […] In our study, the RAMA-NFB Prediction Score predicts complications of necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia in adult patients who present with cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB Prediction Score shows AuROC 82.93% (with 95% CI, 76.9888.89). This indicates good correlation of the six identified variables (age65 years, Body Mass Index30 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus, elevated body temperature, low systolic blood pressure, and involvement of the lower extremities) to predict complications of bacteremia or necrotizing fasciitis following a diagnosis of cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB score allows for early decision making in diagnosis, disposition, and treatment. Furthermore, the clinical score does not require laboratory testing, thus making implementation easy to use and applicable to Emergency Departments with varying degrees of resources.
  • #16 Factors and clinical prediction score for complication development after cellulitis diagnosis in adult patients | International Journal of Emergency Medicine | Full Text
    https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-024-00646-w
    Cellulitis is defined as a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that can cause multiple complications, such as sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. In extreme cases, it may lead to multiorgan failure and death. […] Our predictive score has an accuracy of 82.93% (95% CI, 0.770.89). Patients in the high-risk group (RAMA NFB score6) have a likelihood ratio of 8.75 (95% CI, 4.4118.12; p0.001) times to develop complications of cellulitis. […] In our study, the RAMA-NFB Prediction Score predicts complications of necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia in adult patients who present with cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB Prediction Score shows AuROC 82.93% (with 95% CI, 76.9888.89). This indicates good correlation of the six identified variables (age65 years, Body Mass Index30 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus, elevated body temperature, low systolic blood pressure, and involvement of the lower extremities) to predict complications of bacteremia or necrotizing fasciitis following a diagnosis of cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB score allows for early decision making in diagnosis, disposition, and treatment. Furthermore, the clinical score does not require laboratory testing, thus making implementation easy to use and applicable to Emergency Departments with varying degrees of resources.
  • #17 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Lower extremity cellulitis typically presents with acutely expanding erythema, warmth, edema, and tenderness. […] Studies have shown that about 30% of people admitted to the hospital for treatment of cellulitis are mis-diagnosed, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic therapy. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule has been validated prospectively, and it outperformed thermal imaging for the diagnosis of lower extremity cellulitis in the emergency department. […] Given an overall likelihood of cellulitis in this group of 69%, only 9.1% with a score of 0 to 2 had cellulitis, compared with 80.4% with a score of 3 to 7. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule applies only to lower extremity cellulitis and does not apply to patients with surgery in the past 30 days, penetrating trauma, indwelling hardware at the site, burns, diabetic ulcers, abscess, known history of osteomyelitis, or intravenous antibiotic use in the 48 hours before the emergency department visit.
  • #18 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Lower extremity cellulitis typically presents with acutely expanding erythema, warmth, edema, and tenderness. […] Studies have shown that about 30% of people admitted to the hospital for treatment of cellulitis are mis-diagnosed, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic therapy. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule has been validated prospectively, and it outperformed thermal imaging for the diagnosis of lower extremity cellulitis in the emergency department. […] Given an overall likelihood of cellulitis in this group of 69%, only 9.1% with a score of 0 to 2 had cellulitis, compared with 80.4% with a score of 3 to 7. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule applies only to lower extremity cellulitis and does not apply to patients with surgery in the past 30 days, penetrating trauma, indwelling hardware at the site, burns, diabetic ulcers, abscess, known history of osteomyelitis, or intravenous antibiotic use in the 48 hours before the emergency department visit.
  • #19 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Lower extremity cellulitis typically presents with acutely expanding erythema, warmth, edema, and tenderness. […] Studies have shown that about 30% of people admitted to the hospital for treatment of cellulitis are mis-diagnosed, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic therapy. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule has been validated prospectively, and it outperformed thermal imaging for the diagnosis of lower extremity cellulitis in the emergency department. […] Given an overall likelihood of cellulitis in this group of 69%, only 9.1% with a score of 0 to 2 had cellulitis, compared with 80.4% with a score of 3 to 7. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule applies only to lower extremity cellulitis and does not apply to patients with surgery in the past 30 days, penetrating trauma, indwelling hardware at the site, burns, diabetic ulcers, abscess, known history of osteomyelitis, or intravenous antibiotic use in the 48 hours before the emergency department visit.
  • #20 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Another seven-point clinical prediction rule, NEW HAvUN, has been developed from a retrospective chart review of 57 patients with suspected cellulitis whose final diagnosis after dermatology consultation was cellulitis vs. stasis dermatitis or lipodermatosclerosis. […] Testing positive for four of seven components (acute onset of less than three days, erythema, pyrexia more than 100.4F [38C], history of trauma, tenderness, unilaterality, and a white blood cell count of more than 10,000 per L [10 109 per L]) was highly sensitive (100%) and specific (95%) for cellulitis, but prospective validation with a full range of potential alternate diagnoses is needed.
  • #21 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Another seven-point clinical prediction rule, NEW HAvUN, has been developed from a retrospective chart review of 57 patients with suspected cellulitis whose final diagnosis after dermatology consultation was cellulitis vs. stasis dermatitis or lipodermatosclerosis. […] Testing positive for four of seven components (acute onset of less than three days, erythema, pyrexia more than 100.4F [38C], history of trauma, tenderness, unilaterality, and a white blood cell count of more than 10,000 per L [10 109 per L]) was highly sensitive (100%) and specific (95%) for cellulitis, but prospective validation with a full range of potential alternate diagnoses is needed.
  • #22 Cellulitis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549770/
    If the clinician promptly identifies cellulitis and initiates treatment with the correct antibiotic, patients can expect to notice an improvement in signs and symptoms within 48 hours. […] Annual recurrence of cellulitis occurs in about 8 to 20% of patients, with overall reoccurrence rates reaching as high as 49%. […] Recurrence is preventable with prompt treatment of cuts or abrasions, proper hand hygiene, as well as effectively treating any underlying comorbidities. […] There is approximately an 18% failure rate with initial antibiotic treatment. […] Overall, cellulitis has a good prognosis.
  • #23 Development and validation of the Baseline Recurrence Risk in Cellulitis (BRRISC) score
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11832457/
    Risk of cellulitis recurrence varies markedly according to individual patient factors captured in the Baseline Recurrence Risk in Cellulitis (BRRISC) score. Further work is needed to optimise the score, considering baseline and treatment response variables not captured in EHR data, and establish the utility of risk-based approaches to guide optimal antibiotic duration.
  • #24 Cellulitis: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214222-overview
    Many cases of cellulitis and SSTI can be treated on an outpatient basis with oral antibiotics and do not result in lasting sequelae. Most patients conditions respond well to oral antibiotics. When outpatient therapy is unsuccessful, or for patients who require admission initially, IV antibiotics are usually effective. […] Cellulitis may progress to serious illness by uncontrolled contiguous spread, including via the lymphatic or circulatory systems. Associated conditions or complications include lymphangitis, abscess formation, and, rarely, gangrenous cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis. Certain species, most notably group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) and S aureus, produce toxins that may mediate a more severe systemic infection, leading to septic shock and death.
  • #25 Cellulitis: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214222-overview
    Many cases of cellulitis and SSTI can be treated on an outpatient basis with oral antibiotics and do not result in lasting sequelae. Most patients conditions respond well to oral antibiotics. When outpatient therapy is unsuccessful, or for patients who require admission initially, IV antibiotics are usually effective. […] Cellulitis may progress to serious illness by uncontrolled contiguous spread, including via the lymphatic or circulatory systems. Associated conditions or complications include lymphangitis, abscess formation, and, rarely, gangrenous cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis. Certain species, most notably group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) and S aureus, produce toxins that may mediate a more severe systemic infection, leading to septic shock and death.
  • #26 Factors and clinical prediction score for complication development after cellulitis diagnosis in adult patients | International Journal of Emergency Medicine | Full Text
    https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-024-00646-w
    Cellulitis is defined as a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that can cause multiple complications, such as sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. In extreme cases, it may lead to multiorgan failure and death. […] Our predictive score has an accuracy of 82.93% (95% CI, 0.770.89). Patients in the high-risk group (RAMA NFB score6) have a likelihood ratio of 8.75 (95% CI, 4.4118.12; p0.001) times to develop complications of cellulitis. […] In our study, the RAMA-NFB Prediction Score predicts complications of necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia in adult patients who present with cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB Prediction Score shows AuROC 82.93% (with 95% CI, 76.9888.89). This indicates good correlation of the six identified variables (age65 years, Body Mass Index30 kg/m2, diabetes mellitus, elevated body temperature, low systolic blood pressure, and involvement of the lower extremities) to predict complications of bacteremia or necrotizing fasciitis following a diagnosis of cellulitis. […] The RAMA-NFB score allows for early decision making in diagnosis, disposition, and treatment. Furthermore, the clinical score does not require laboratory testing, thus making implementation easy to use and applicable to Emergency Departments with varying degrees of resources.
  • #27 Cellulitis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549770/
    If the clinician promptly identifies cellulitis and initiates treatment with the correct antibiotic, patients can expect to notice an improvement in signs and symptoms within 48 hours. […] Annual recurrence of cellulitis occurs in about 8 to 20% of patients, with overall reoccurrence rates reaching as high as 49%. […] Recurrence is preventable with prompt treatment of cuts or abrasions, proper hand hygiene, as well as effectively treating any underlying comorbidities. […] There is approximately an 18% failure rate with initial antibiotic treatment. […] Overall, cellulitis has a good prognosis.
  • #28 Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department
    https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/11/1021
    A total of 777 patients were included, of which 77 were diagnosed with cellulitis. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was 3.9% and did not differ significantly from other infections. […] The readmission rate for the patients with cellulitis within 30 days after discharge was 26%. This number seemed to be slightly higher compared to the patients with other infections, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. […] The length of hospital stay for the patients with cellulitis was found to be 18% lower, resulting in one less day of hospitalization compared to those with another infectious diagnosis. However, no statistical significance was found. […] The 30-day mortality of the patients with cellulitis was found to be 3.9%. Interestingly, we found no significant association of lower mortality compared to the patients with other infections, even though the patients with cellulitis in this study were systemically less affected, and mortality for cellulitis was found to be generally low in other studies (1.1–2.5%). […] Half of the patients with cellulitis were discharged to home within two days. There were no differences in the mortality, length of hospital stay or readmission compared to patients with other infections.
  • #29 Applying a Clinical Prediction Rule to Distinguish Lower Extremity Cellulitis from Its Mimics | AAFP
    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0900/p309.html
    Lower extremity cellulitis typically presents with acutely expanding erythema, warmth, edema, and tenderness. […] Studies have shown that about 30% of people admitted to the hospital for treatment of cellulitis are mis-diagnosed, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic therapy. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule has been validated prospectively, and it outperformed thermal imaging for the diagnosis of lower extremity cellulitis in the emergency department. […] Given an overall likelihood of cellulitis in this group of 69%, only 9.1% with a score of 0 to 2 had cellulitis, compared with 80.4% with a score of 3 to 7. […] The ALT-70 clinical prediction rule applies only to lower extremity cellulitis and does not apply to patients with surgery in the past 30 days, penetrating trauma, indwelling hardware at the site, burns, diabetic ulcers, abscess, known history of osteomyelitis, or intravenous antibiotic use in the 48 hours before the emergency department visit.