referral criteria from primary care - leg ulcer infection
Last edited 02/2020
Referral or seeking specialist advice
- refer adults with an infected leg ulcer to hospital if they have any symptoms or signs suggesting a more serious illness or condition, such as sepsis, necrotising fasciitis or osteomyelitis
- consider referring or seeking specialist advice for adults with an infected leg ulcer if they:
- have a higher risk of complications because of comorbidities, such as diabetes or immunosuppression
- have lymphangitis
- have spreading infection that is not responding to oral antibiotics
- cannot take oral antibiotics (exploring locally available options for giving intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics at home or in the community, rather than in hospital, where appropriate)
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