Cellulitis is a skin infection that is commonly caused by the Staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus bacteria. Of the two, the staph is the more common cause. More dangerous is the strain of the bacteria that is resistant to an antibiotic called methicillin. The methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA very difficult to treat as it is resistant to many forms of antibiotics. The other usual cause of cellulitis is the streptococcus bacteria, which are grouped into two, the A Streptococcus and the B Streptococcus. However, you can also expect another form of cellulitis caused by this particular virus that is just a superficial infection. It is characterized by a widening red circular area on the skin whose edges are rather raised sharply. Another form of these bacteria can cause rapid destruction of skin tissues. Called flesh-eating bacteria, it is altogether another disease but is still worth mentioning.
Other cellulitis bacteria can cause severe damage to the affected skin area. In children usually from six years old downwards, cellulitis usually appears on the face, arms and upper body. This type of cellulitis, though the same skin disease, is caused by different bacteria. Called Hemophilus influenzae or H. flu, it has caused many skin discomforts for small children around the world. Playing with a pet dog or cat can also cause cellulitis as their bite or scratch may be infected by the bacteria that can cause the skin disease. The bacteria that you can acquire from these sources are called Pasteurella multocida. This type of bacteria has a very short incubation period from four to twenty-four hours.
Taking a bath or a swim is not excluded from a possible source of the skin infection. There are cellulitis-causing bacteria that initiate the development of the skin infection after exposure to water either fresh or salty. The two major types of bacteria that were identified as causes of cellulitis are Aeromonas hydrophilia and Vibrio vulnificus. The bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa can set in after a puncture wound. This type of bacteria was identified to cause cellulitis after being wounded by a sharp object, which cuts through several layers of the skin.
