Intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis

Medicine given through a vein reaches the bloodstream without relying on absorption from the stomach. A clinician may choose it when cellulitis is spreading, you are systemically unwell, swallowing or absorbing medicine is difficult, or oral treatment has not worked as expected. The decision depends on the examination, medical history, allergy history and whether a collection, wound or deeper infection is present. Intravenous treatment is not automatically needed for every case of cellulitis.

Treatment may take place in hospital or through a supervised outpatient service, depending on your condition and local arrangements. Staff will check the skin, vital signs and the intravenous site, then decide when a switch to oral medicine is appropriate. Tell them about allergies, kidney problems, pregnancy, previous antibiotic reactions and every medicine or supplement you use. Keep the cannula dry, report pain or swelling around it and do not stop treatment early without medical advice.

Seek urgent help for rapidly expanding redness, severe pain, blistering or darkening skin, confusion, faintness, breathing difficulty, shaking chills or marked weakness. While receiving intravenous treatment, report facial or throat swelling, wheezing, a widespread rash, severe diarrhoea, or increasing redness and pain immediately. These symptoms can signal a serious infection or a reaction requiring prompt attention.

Ask why intravenous treatment is being recommended, what improvement should look like, how the vein site will be monitored and when tablets might be suitable. Ask whether a wound, abscess or underlying skin problem needs separate treatment and what follow-up is planned.