Cellulitis: Clinical History

Cellulitis Skin

  • A 40 year-old woman with a long history of diabetes mellitis developed swelling and erythema of the left lower leg following superficial abrasion of the skin after a fall. The patient developed high fever and mild prostration.
  • The cellulitis of the lower leg is shown in the photograph.
  • Note in the photograph that the acute inflammation is most evident as red areas of streaking at the sites of abrasion.
  • Blood cultures were obtained that turned positive in 18 hours.

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