Cellulitis & Skin Infection

Also: erysipelas · soft tissue infection

Cellulitis and other skin and soft-tissue infections are common, ranging from simple cellulitis to limb- or sight-threatening disease. Severity assessment guides the setting of care and antibiotic choice.

The relevant tools, antibiotics and pathways are gathered here.

Calculators & scores

LRINEC Score — Necrotising Fasciitis

Diagnosis

Decision pathways

Cellulitis and Erysipelas

NICE NG141 2019 / CREST
Cellulitis Management

CREST 2005 / BSAC
Necrotising Fasciitis

IDSA 2014 / WSES 2018
Otitis Externa (Acute / Severe / Necrotising)

ENT UK; NICE CKS
Orbital vs Preseptal Cellulitis

RCOphth; ENT UK

Drugs

Clarithromycin (ENT Indications)

Macrolide antibiotic
Co-amoxiclav 625mg (Augmentin)

Beta-lactam + beta-lactamase inhibitor antibiotic
Doxycycline 100mg Capsules (Sinusitis — Penicillin Allergy)

Tetracycline antibiotic
Flucloxacillin

Antibiotic — Penicillinase-Resistant
Co-Amoxiclav

Antibiotic (Penicillin + Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor)
Doxycycline

Antibiotic (Tetracycline)
Clarithromycin

Macrolide Antibiotic
Co-amoxiclav (Amoxicillin/Clavulanate)

Beta-lactam + beta-lactamase inhibitor
Vancomycin

Glycopeptide antibiotic
Clindamycin

Lincosamide Antibiotic
Clindamycin (BV / GBS Prophylaxis)

Lincosamide Antibiotic — Obstetric / Gynaecological
Flucloxacillin 1–2g IV

Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillin (Anti-Staphylococcal)

Decision support only. These tools are aggregated by topic to aid navigation — always apply clinical judgement and the relevant national or local guideline.