title: Cellulitis complicating lymphoedema.
abstract: In ten hospitalised patients with cellulitis complicating lymphoedema encountered over a 3-year period (1996-1998), the underlying diseases were carcinoma of the cervix (n = 4), uterus (n = 1), vagina (n = 1), breast (n=2) and nasopharynx (n= 1), and retroperitoneal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1). Three of the ten patients had positive blood cultures, compared to none of the 20 age-matched, sex-matched controls hospitalised for cellulitis without lymphoedema. The mean duration of fever, tachycardia and cellulitis was significantly longer in patients with lymphoedema than in those without (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.005 respectively). Early treatment initiated by patients themselves may help stop bacterial replication in the initial stages and minimise further damage to the lymphatic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents