Non-purulent cellulitis often gets worse before it gets better. It can take 48-72 hr to see visible improvement in margins.
Fever/chills, leukocytosis, and subjective patient assessment are more reliable indicators of clinical response in the first 24-48 hr.
Expect discoloration (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) to persist even after patients have been successfully treated with an adequate course of antibiotics.
Definitions
Mild: No significant signs of systemic infection
Moderate: Early sepsis
Severe: Severe sepsis and/or hemodynamic instability
Lacerations