Weighing the Benefits of Antibiotics for Cellulitis

One-third of 106 patients hospitalized for cellulitis with or without cutaneous abscess were classified as “clinical failures” in a study by the University of California (with locations in Sacramento, California and San Francisco, California) and University of the Pacific Thomas Long J. School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Stockton, California. The clinical failures comprised 13 rehospitalizations, 10 cases of treatment failure (ie, the patient needed repeat incisions or drainage, or changes in antibiotic therapy), 8 emergency department visits, 2 recurrences, and 1 death.