Vancomycin Recommended for Cellulitis Treatment

Antibiotic Drug Vancomycin Is the Drug of Choice for Treating Cellulitis

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the infected area of the skin. Generally, cellulitis appears as a red, swollen, and painful area of skin that is warm and tender to the touch. Sometimes the bacteria gets into the body through openings in the skin, like an injury or surgical wound. In general, people cannot catch cellulitis from someone else - it is not contagious. If Cellulitis is left untreated, it can spread and cause serious health problems.

Main Digest

Patients admitted to the hospital for the common bacterial skin infection cellulitis should be treated as a first line of defense with the potent antibiotic drug vancomycin rather than other antibiotics such as penicillin, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

For some time, medical practice guidelines have been ambiguous about whether vancomycin or so-called B-lactam antibiotics like penicillin or cephalosporins was the more appropriate therapy for treating patients admitted for cellulitis. If left untreated and infection spreads, cellulitis could become life threatening.

The Henry Ford study found that 226 patients treated intravenously with vancomycin between December 2005 and October 2008 fared better and were discharged on average one day earlier than 199 patients treated intravenously with the B-lactam antibiotics.

The study was presented Oct. 23 at the 48th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Oct. 21-24 in Vancouver.

"We believe vancomycin is the better treatment option for managing patients hospitalized with cellulitis," says Hiren Pokharna, M.D., an Infectious Diseases fellow at Henry Ford Hospital and the study's lead author.

With MRSA skin and soft tissue infections increasing, researchers sought to compare the two groups of antibiotics commonly used for treating hospitalized patients with cellulitis. The common bacterial skin infection is caused by many types of bacteria including staphylococcus and streptococcus. Symptoms include redness, swelling, tenderness and pain.

MRSA strains have proven resistant to common antibiotics like penicillin and other drugs. However, they have been shown to be susceptible to vancomycin.

Attribution/Source(s):

This peer reviewed publication pertaining to our Pharmaceutical Information section was selected for circulation by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "Vancomycin Recommended for Cellulitis Treatment" was originally written by Henry Ford Health System, and submitted for publishing on 2010/10/24 (Edit Update: 2023/12/30). Should you require further information or clarification, Henry Ford Health System can be contacted at the henryford.com website. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

📢 Discover Related Topics


👍 Share This Information To:
𝕏.com Facebook Reddit

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is an independent disability community founded in 2004 to provide disability news and information to people with disabilities, seniors, their family and/or carers. You can connect with us on social media such as X.com and our Facebook page.

Cite This Page (APA): Henry Ford Health System. (2010, October 24). Vancomycin Recommended for Cellulitis Treatment. Disabled World. Retrieved April 18, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/medical/pharmaceutical/vancomycin-cellulitis.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/medical/pharmaceutical/vancomycin-cellulitis.php">Vancomycin Recommended for Cellulitis Treatment</a>: Cellulitis should be treated as a first line of defense with the antibiotic drug vancomycin rather than other antibiotics such as penicillin.

Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified professional medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.