Marla Harrod
In the case of my cellulitus, I was on IV antibiotics,for first three nights in hospital,my left arm was suspended to reduce severe swelling.Doctor withdraw some fluid from near elbow area to find out if it was clear or pus. Mine was green pus.Two days later I had surgery.They called it 'irrigation and drainage.A long suction wand of sorts was inserted down to my wrist and up near my shoulder to suction out infection.Infection caused the layers of skin to separate from the muscle and there was places where skin was tissue paper thin.I was told by surgeon I had the worst abcess he has seen in his 23 year career.Infecfious Disease doctor also commented that I had the second worst arm he had ever seen with the first one not having good results.My incision was left open to drain.It was located on elbow.Packing was romoved 2 days later.I was sent home 2 days later on home IV therapy and physical therapy which at first was putting arm in whirlpool,then therapist would clean incision and peel off all dead skin,then redress arm.I would assume that if infection is too advanced that amputation would be involved.I think it almost happened to me.