Cellulitis is a skin disease. Someone is infected if the skin is broken from a boil, insect bite cut or a rush. Also, injuries from burns and grazes may lead to cellulitis infection. Cellulitis does not affect only on the skin surface, it can also affect beneath the skin if the skin is bruised or it is experiencing poor blood circulation. (www.health.govt/skin-cellulitis, p.4). It is a bacterial infection, and infected areas appear red and tender and feel hot when touched gently (Damian Dhar, A.(n.d) Cellulitis).
Cellulitis is an infection occurring in many parts of the world that is not widely noticed. Like in England, the lower part of the limbs of many patients has been noted. It has cost some financial and other resources very highly. Between 2011 and 2012, 55000 patients were admitted (according to the Health and Social Care Informationtenentre, HSCIC, 2013). Each patient stayed at least 10 days before being discharged. In 2006 alone, there were about 400,000 bed days (Department of Health (DH), 2006; Halpern et al., 2008).
In the invasion of the infection in the population, a study done in the United States showed that there was an increase of 12 per 10,000 up to 21 per 10,000 in the year 2011. In the Netherlands, a European country, the study reflected that the number of cellulitis patients per total population per year increased with the age of about 50- 80 at more than 100 per 10,000. (Adam, B. Raff et al (2006), vol 316. Pg.326).
Cellulitis affects the subcutaneous part of the skin through body breakage, allowing entry of bacteria-causing pathogens. The infection is escalated by damaging the cutaneous protective layer, making the skin susceptible. This damage is largely caused by web space bacteria, fungal foot infections, pressure ulcers, and leg venom. As a result, skin properties like surface temperature and PH are reduced, leading to the generation of harmful microorganisms. (Adam,B, Raff et al).
References
Cannon, J., et al (2018). Severe lower limb cellulitis: defining the epidemiology and risk factors for primary episodes in a population-based case-control study. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. Cannon, J.,
Dyer, J., Carapetis, J., & Manning, L. (2018). The epidemiology and risk factors for recurrent severe lower limb cellulitis: a longitudinal cohort study. Clinical Microbiology and Infection.
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