Prevention and on-going treatment Admission to hospital is costly both for the NHS and the patient, so avoiding admission is preferable. As people with conditions of the lower limb are more prone to cellulitis, it is prudent to attempt to prevent this debilitating condition if at all possible. Patients with lymphoedema are sometimes prescribed long-term antibiotic prophylaxis with a low dose of erythromycin for up to two years (BLS 2010). This should be discussed with theGP and microbiologist and the patient needs to be committed to this regimen. Further research into this prophylactic approach is under review (PATCH 2010). Once the patient has recovered from cellulitis, he or she should remain vigilant for any early signs of return of the condition. One of the long-term effects of cellulitis is oedema, which in turn is a risk factor for