Clinical Decision Unit to Direct Home Infusion Therapy for Cellulitis

Most patients with cellulitis can be managed with oral antibiotic therapy, but some must be admitted to the hospital (for signs of systemic infection, rapidly progressive local cellulitis changes, or other precipitating factors), where they typically receive intravenous antibiotics. Cellulitis is such a common diagnosis that novel methods to avoid hospitalization are being evaluated.

Investigators conducted a retrospective, single-center pilot study of 213 patients with cellulitis who had presented to the emergency department, were deemed to have a “reasonable chance” of discharge within 24 hours, and were therefore transferred to a clinical decision unit (CDU). Of the CDU entrants, 67% greatly improved and were discharged on oral antibiotic…