Cellulitis - Anogenital in
See also in: Overview,Cellulitis DDx,Hair and Scalp,Oral Mucosal LesionAlerts and Notices
Synopsis
Although many cases of cellulitis are attributable to streptococci, it is important to be cognizant of the rising prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) has increasingly been identified as the agent of skin and soft tissue infections in otherwise healthy individuals lacking the traditional risk factors for such infections (intravenous drug use, incarceration, participation in contact sports, etc). It has been shown that the majority of purulent skin and soft tissue infections presenting to emergency rooms across the United States are caused by CA-MRSA. It is not currently known if nonpurulent skin infections like cellulitis are more frequently caused by MRSA today.
In all, the majority of cases of cellulitis resolve with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The decision to hospitalize a patient presenting with cellulitis will depend on the clinical picture and the patient's medical comorbidities. For any case of genital cellulitis, it is important to exclude Fournier gangrene.
Codes
ICD10CM:L03.90 – Cellulitis, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
128045006 – Cellulitis
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Contact dermatitis
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Testicular torsion
- Herpes virus infections (herpes simplex virus or zoster with associated lymphangitic erythema)
- Fournier gangrene
- Gas gangrene
- Abscess (pilonidal or other)
- Hematocele
- Incarcerated or strangulated hernia
- Fixed drug eruption
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Calciphylaxis
- Lymphedema
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Granuloma inguinale
- Genitourinary Crohn disease
- Intertrigo
- Erythrasma
- Tinea cruris
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:08/23/2017
Last Updated:08/23/2017
Last Updated:08/23/2017