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This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Antibiotics may reduce the risk of leg cellulitis by about two-thirds in adults who have had at least two previous episodes, but only while they take the antibiotics. There is limited evidence measuring the efficacy of other forms of prevention.
A review of five studies showed that the risk of developing repeated cellulitis was reduced in participants who were taking long-term (more than six months) penicillin or erythromycin, compared with a control group. Once the antibiotic course had finished, participants’ risk of recurrent cellulitis was no different from the control group.
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that spreads and worsens quickly. Risk of recurrence is high in people with a predisposing condition such as poor leg circulation.
This review explored the effectiveness of various preventative interventions for recurrent cellulitis. It highlights the need to explore non-pharmacological options, such as compression stockings, moisturisers or exercise. These could be cheaper and avoid the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance, but few studies of these options were identified.
Why was this study needed?
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that is painful and can spread rapidly under the skin. It’s a common condition, particularly in those with underlying disease, poor circulation or a weak immune system and can progress to cause serious illness.
People who are hospitalised for cellulitis are likely to be readmitted due to a repeat occurrence at a later date. Studies have shown that as many as 45% of these people experience a recurrence within three years.
Existing guidelines recommend antibiotics to prevent recurrent cellulitis. They also advise careful skin care and treating conditions such as fungal infections and dryness that can allow bacteria through the skin.
This study aimed to explore and assess the available interventions that prevent recurrent cellulitis in adults.
What did this study do?
This systematic review analysed and pooled the results of five studies (514 participants). They assessed antibiotic use compared to placebo or no prophylaxis in adults who had at least two episodes of leg cellulitis in the previous three years. Those with cellulitis due to poor lymphatic drainage were excluded.
Participants receiving antibiotics were treated for between six and 18 months with either penicillin (four studies) or erythromycin (one study). The primary outcome was at least one episode of cellulitis within at least three months after randomisation. Follow-up was up to three years.
The review assessed the trials as moderate-quality. They took place in five countries (two studies in the UK). Three studies had a high risk of bias, because clinicians, participants or assessors were aware of the treatment type. Antibiotic type and dosage were not consistent across studies.
What did it find?
- Results from five trials (513 participants) found that people receiving antibiotics were 69% less likely to have a repeat episode of cellulitis; 13.6% had a recurrence compared to 31.5% of the control group (relative risk [RR] 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13 to 0.72). A clinician would need to treat six people with antibiotics in order for one episode of cellulitis to be prevented (number needed to treat is six, 95% CI 5 to 15 at a control event rate 83/263 [32%]).
- There were 56% fewer infections over the study period in the antibiotic group (88 infections) compared with the control group (168 infections), (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.89).
- Antibiotics did not have a long-term effect on preventing repeated cellulitis. Participants who had finished their course of antibiotics showed no difference in the risk of getting cellulitis again compared to the control group, during a follow up of 18 months to two years (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.31). This result came from two studies (287 participants).
- There was no significant difference in the number of adverse events between the control and treatment groups (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.30).
What does current guidance say on this issue?
NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary service recommends treating underlying risk factors such as breaks in the skin, oedema and obesity, to prevent recurrence of cellulitis. It advises considering referral to secondary care for advice on prophylactic antibiotics if someone has more than two episodes of cellulitis on the same site within a year.
The Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team published guidelines on the management of cellulitis in 2005. They recommend antibiotic prophylaxis in those who have had at least two episodes of cellulitis at the same site.
What are the implications?
This review looked for prophylactic interventions for recurrent cellulitis but found most evidence for the use of antibiotics. Further evidence on alternative strategies such as compression stockings or exercises would be useful, given the need to prescribe antibiotics carefully.
These results, although in line with current guidance, are applicable to a narrow population as the studies did not include people with lymphoedema. Antibiotic prophylaxis only seems effective whilst treatment is on-going.
Studies comparing specific antibiotics for all cellulitis cases would give a clearer picture on the most effective way to prevent recurrence and allow researchers to address the issues of antibiotic guardianship.
Citation and Funding
Dalal A, Eskin-Schwartz M, Mimouni D, et al. Interventions for the prevention of recurrent erysipelas and cellulitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6:CD009758.
Cochrane UK and the Cochrane Skin Group are supported by the NIHR infrastructure funding.
Bibliography
Cox NH. Oedema as a risk factor for multiple episodes of cellulitis/erysipelas of the lower leg: a series with community follow-up. Br J of Dermatol. 2006;155(5):947-50.
NICE CKS. Cellulitis – acute. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clinical Knowledge Summaries; 2015.
Patient. Cellulitis and Erysipelas. Leeds: Patient Platform Limited; 2015.
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