Patient/caregiver was educated on complications of cellulitis as follows:
- Infection with accumulation of pus at the affected skin site can result in further swelling and small fluid-filled blisters, which can burst open leaking fluid, leaving sore skin. These open sites with sore skin can be secondarily infected with bacteria again, thus leading to progression of cellulitis.
- If the infection were not controlled, the infecting agent (bacteria/fungi) from the site of cellulitis can enter the deeper layers of skin, bloodstream, & lymph, and be distributed widely throughout the body. Recurrent episodes of cellulitis may obstruct the flow of lymph in the involved skin, resulting in chronic swelling of the affected body part.
- This can result in spread of the infection to various internal organs. This entry of infecting agent into blood stream and spread to multiple sites is called septicemia.
- Depending on the sites of spread, it can also result in poor functioning of internal organs such as, brain, lungs, kidneys, & intestines, resulting in poor functioning and failure of multiple organs.
- Multiple organ failure due to poorly controlled septicemia can lead to episodes of confusion & dizziness, difficulty breathing, reduced appetite, poorly functioning kidneys with reduced urine formation, episodes of loss of consciousness, and can be life-threatening.
