Implementation of a Cellulitis Management Plan in Three Australian Regional Health Services to Address an Evidence-Practice Gap in Antibiotic Prescribing.

Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines, antibiotics for cellulitis remain inappropriately prescribed. This evidence-practice gap is more evident in low-resource settings, such as rural hospitals. This implementation study developed and introduced a cellulitis management plan to improve antibiotic prescribing for cellulitis in three health services in regional Australia.

Patient satisfaction with a consumer codesigned lower limb cellulitis leaflet.

Objective This study evaluated whether a consumer codesigned leaflet about the common skin infection cellulitis would improve patient satisfaction. Methods A patient information leaflet was codesigned with consumers incorporating health literacy principles and attached to a new adult lower limb cellulitis management plan launched in three regional Victorian health services. Health service staff were educated to provide the leaflet during hospital care.

Impact of time to first antimicrobial dose on length of stay and 30-day hospital readmission in patients with lower limb cellulitis.

Objectives: There have been efforts to promote timely antimicrobial administration for patients with sepsis, but the importance for other infections is uncertain. This study analysed whether time to first antimicrobial dose (TFAD) in patients with lower limb cellulitis influenced outcome measures such as acute length of stay (LOS) in hospital and 30-day hospital readmission rates for cellulitis.

Methods: Medical records of patients admitted with lower limb cellulitis or erysipelas over a 15-month period (1 May 2019 to 30 November 2019 and 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2020) were reviewed.