What should you know about empiric antibiotics for cellulitis?

Cellulitis causes a painful, warm, swollen area of skin that may spread. A clinician usually judges the likely bacteria from the appearance, location, severity, skin breaks and your medical history. A swab is not always useful from intact skin, so treatment may begin from the clinical assessment. The medicine can be reviewed if the area changes, a wound sample provides useful information or the response is not as expected.

Take each dose as directed and do not use leftover antibiotics. Keep the affected area clean, avoid squeezing or scratching it, and note the edge of redness if your clinician recommends monitoring spread. Rest the limb if it is swollen and ask which pain relief is suitable for you. Tell the prescriber about medicine allergies, pregnancy, kidney disease and current treatments. Antibiotics may be given by a different route when illness is severe.

Obtain prompt medical review for rapidly expanding redness, increasing pain, fever, pus, red streaks, facial involvement or cellulitis after an animal or human bite. Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, breathing difficulty or swelling of the lips and face. If symptoms are not settling or are worsening after treatment begins, contact the treating clinician rather than changing the medicine yourself.

How will we judge whether the cellulitis is improving? Do I need a wound sample or a different treatment route? Which reaction or symptom should prompt urgent help?