Diagnosis of Cellulitis in the Immunocompromised Host

Abstract

A prospective study of diagnostic techniques in cellulitis was performed on 28 patients with malignancy. Twenty‐two (78%) of the fine needle aspiration cultures and 10 (35%) of the blood cultures were positive in this immunocompromised population. The incidence of positive fine needle aspiration cultures (P<0.005) or bacteremia (P<0.0005) was significantly higher than results obtained in an immunocompetent population with cellulitis at the same institution. Staphylococci or streptococci were recovered in 59% of positive cultures, while aerobic Gram‐negative bacilli grew in 33%. This study indicates that in the immunocompromised population with cellulitis, fine needle aspiration and blood cultures should be obtained, and the antibiotic regimen should cover Gram‐positive cocci and Gram‐negative bacilli pending the results of cultures.