Article: Treating wounds immediately is important because cellulitis can be introduced to the body through an open wound. Any open would, however innocuous and seemingly harmless, can create an opportunity for the development of cellulitis. Inflammation generally starts at the point where skin was previously broken. As a result, you should treat all newly opened wounds as soon as possible. Introduction of cellulitis can be caused by:  Cuts Blisters Burns Cracks in the skin Surgical wounds Sites of intravenous catheter insertion Cellulitis is most often caused by Streptococcus type A and Staphylococcus aureus; however, while these are the two most common causes, it can be caused by other types of bacteria. Blood test and cultures are needed in order to determine exactly the type of bacteria that is causing cellulitis.  If you have a known or suspected underlying condition, such as diabetes, your doctor will likely want to perform more tests. Be conscious of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a bacteria that is resistant to antibiotic treatment. Oral medication will not work on this type of infection and you will need to be given vancomycin intravenously. MRSA must be treated quickly or it can become life-threatening. Treatment for mild forms of cellulitis include elevation of the affected area and treatment of the underlying conditions.  Patients that have edema as one of their underlying conditions may benefit from compression stockings or diuretics. Nevertheless, antibiotics are usually the best solution to heal this type of infection. Antibiotics are used orally or intravenously depending of severity affected skin area.  For mild infections, your doctor may give you the oral antibiotic cephalexin. In more severe cases, you may be treated with vancomycin or meropenem. One major complication of cellulitis includes infection of deeper structures, such as bone.  This can lead to a disease called osteomyelitis, which is the infection of the bone and requires aggressive treatment. In cases of recurrence of disease treatment with antibiotics may last up to several months.

What is a summary?
Treat wounds immediately to help prevent infection. Recognize that cellulitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Take antibiotics to treat cellulitis.