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What causes chronic cellulitis?

Page last modified on: August 20, 2008
Question from JoanneB: What causes chronic cellulitis?
Answers —Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Chronic cellulitis can occur in the presence of lymphedema and exposure to infection.
Linda Miller, P.T.: Recurrent cellulitis with lymphedema can happen just spontaneously because lymphedema is a high-protein swelling and the protein acts as a breeding ground for normal bacteria to proliferate. So the nature of lymphedema fluids is to set up that breeding ground for bacteria, which is why the skin and arm care precautions are so important.
Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: One of the issues with chronic cellulitis is that the longer it goes on, the more challenging it is to treat. Initially, we start by treating with basic antibiotics to cover the most common bacteria and progress to stronger antibiotics at higher doses. For some women with true chronic lymphedema, there's some information about low-dose antibiotics to try to control or prevent worsening cellulitis.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.

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