Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis
Background: Cellulitis of the lower leg accounts for 2-3% of hospital admissions (Cox et al, 1998), with an average length of in-patient stay of nine days. Studies have reported that up to half of these patients suffer further episodes (Cox et al, 1998; Dupuy et al, 1999). Reducing the recurrence of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wounds UK
2007
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/490/ |
| _version_ | 1848790418990301184 |
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| author | Thomas, K.S. |
| author_facet | Thomas, K.S. |
| author_sort | Thomas, K.S. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Cellulitis of the lower leg accounts for 2-3% of hospital admissions (Cox et al, 1998), with an average length of in-patient stay of nine days. Studies have reported that up to half of these patients suffer further episodes (Cox et al, 1998; Dupuy et al, 1999). Reducing the recurrence of cellulitis could therefore have a significant impact on both patient morbidity and NHS costs. Aims: To assess whether prophylactic antibiotics prescribed after an episode of cellulitis of the leg results in fewer subsequent attacks and reduced health service costs (PATCH prophylactic antibiotics for the treatment of cellulitis at home). Methods: This article describes two related studies in which participants are randomised to receive either 12 months of prophylaxis (PATCH I) or six months of prophylaxis (PATCH II). The PATCH I study recruits only patients with recurrent disease defined as two or more episodes of cellulitis in the last three years. PATCH II has more open criteria and includes patients with a first episode of cellulitis and also participants with recurrent disease. It is expected that 260 patients will be recruited into PATCH I and 400 patients into PATCH II. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:12:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-490 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:12:18Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Wounds UK |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-4902021-06-08T09:49:10Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/490/ Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis Thomas, K.S. Background: Cellulitis of the lower leg accounts for 2-3% of hospital admissions (Cox et al, 1998), with an average length of in-patient stay of nine days. Studies have reported that up to half of these patients suffer further episodes (Cox et al, 1998; Dupuy et al, 1999). Reducing the recurrence of cellulitis could therefore have a significant impact on both patient morbidity and NHS costs. Aims: To assess whether prophylactic antibiotics prescribed after an episode of cellulitis of the leg results in fewer subsequent attacks and reduced health service costs (PATCH prophylactic antibiotics for the treatment of cellulitis at home). Methods: This article describes two related studies in which participants are randomised to receive either 12 months of prophylaxis (PATCH I) or six months of prophylaxis (PATCH II). The PATCH I study recruits only patients with recurrent disease defined as two or more episodes of cellulitis in the last three years. PATCH II has more open criteria and includes patients with a first episode of cellulitis and also participants with recurrent disease. It is expected that 260 patients will be recruited into PATCH I and 400 patients into PATCH II. Wounds UK 2007 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/490/1/PATCH_protocol_j_of_lymph.pdf Thomas, K.S. (2007) Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis. Journal of Lymphoedema, 2 (1). pp. 34-37. ISSN 1750-7235 PATCH Prophylactic Cellulitis http://www.lymphormation.org/journal/content/0201_cellulitis.pdf |
| spellingShingle | PATCH Prophylactic Cellulitis Thomas, K.S. Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title | Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title_full | Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title_fullStr | Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title_short | Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| title_sort | prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis |
| topic | PATCH Prophylactic Cellulitis |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/490/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/490/ |