Cellulitis is a skin infection usually brought about by the bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. The S. aureus is actually a bacterium that is normally found on the skin. When found on the skin surface, the bacterium is harmless and is a normal part of the skin flora. However, when the bacterium reaches the deeper skin layers such as the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, it causes significant infection.
Antibiotics as Cure for Cellulitis
Since the causative organism of cellulitis is bacteria, the standard treatment for it is antibiotics. Through these medicines, the actual cause can be killed or destroyed. Antibiotics are the most important factors in the effective cure and recovery of patients suffering from cellulitis.
Incorrect Antibiotic Use
However, as people continue with incorrect antibiotic use, variant and stronger forms of the causative organism are now evolving. A type of cellulitis called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Cellulitis is now seen. MRSA Cellulitis is the type of cellulitis that does not respond to normal antibiotics of the methicillin or the penicillin group.
These variant forms happen because people refuse to follow correct antibiotic treatment. They stop antibiotic therapy at the first sign of symptom relief. Hence, the bacteria are not killed at all. They become stronger and develop into bacteria types that are no longer affected by antibiotics. These are so-called mutant strains of the bacteria. They develop resistance to the antibiotic and become very difficult to treat. The mutations and variant forms of bacteria can be avoided or prevented by adhering correctly to the antibiotic regimen prescribed by the doctor.
What is the treatment for MRSA Cellulitis?
Antibiotic resistant cellulitis will not respond to normal antibiotic therapy anymore. Hence, there is a need to shift to stronger forms of antibiotics that are more effective in treating the infection. These medicines are more potent but will cause more side effects than the lower generation or normal antibiotics. They are also more expensive than the weaker antibiotic forms. Sometimes, drugs are made into cocktails or combinations to be able to combat forms of bacteria that have become resistant to an antibiotic type. When oral antibiotics prove ineffective, the physician may switch to Intravenous antibiotics or those delivered through an injection.
