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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Treat Swelling Of Legs Caused By Cellulitis?

My husband has been diagnosed with cellulitis. Currently, his right foot and lower leg are double their normal size with no improvement from 4 days of inpatient vancomycin IV treatment and now 4 days into oral antibiotics. He is unable to walk and I m fearful the antibiotics aren t working. What should our next step be?
Mon, 11 Apr 2016
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
hi. i have read your question and understand your concern.

cellulitis is a bacterial infection and has to be treated with antibiotics. vancomycin is a good antibiotic for cellulitis and resistance to it is not very common. but since there is no clinical improvement even after 4 days of vancomycin and 4 more days of oral antibiotics there has to be something wrong.

if there is any pus draining from any place i suggest you get a pus culture sensitivity done. also rule out diabetes, as that may hamper the treatment.

i suggest you to follow up with your doctor and get the following tests done:
1. CBC
2. ESR
3. blood sugar
4. blood culture sensitivity

hope this helps. for any further queries please get back to us. thanks.
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How To Treat Swelling Of Legs Caused By Cellulitis?

hi. i have read your question and understand your concern. cellulitis is a bacterial infection and has to be treated with antibiotics. vancomycin is a good antibiotic for cellulitis and resistance to it is not very common. but since there is no clinical improvement even after 4 days of vancomycin and 4 more days of oral antibiotics there has to be something wrong. if there is any pus draining from any place i suggest you get a pus culture sensitivity done. also rule out diabetes, as that may hamper the treatment. i suggest you to follow up with your doctor and get the following tests done: 1. CBC 2. ESR 3. blood sugar 4. blood culture sensitivity hope this helps. for any further queries please get back to us. thanks.