Value of cultures in patients with acute cellulitis.

A retrospective review of blood and wound cultures obtained from adult patients admitted for acute cellulitis revealed positive culture rates of 0.77% of 86% respectively. Organisms from wound cultures were predominantly Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The majority of our patients were otherwise healthy. Our study suggests that blood cultures are not necessary in acute cellulitis in adults without serious underlying diseases.