Characteristics and Antibiotic Treatment of Patients with Cellulitis in the Emergency Department.

Background: Cellulitis is a common infection in Emergency Departments (EDs), and unclear diagnostics may lead to unnecessary treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with cellulitis admitted to the ED, describe the type and route of antibiotic treatment and compare the prognosis for cellulitis to that for other infections.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study prospectively included adult patients admitted to the ED suspected of having an infection.