Other Types of Bacteria
Cellulitis can be caused by several other types of bacteria. In children younger than 6 years of age, H.flu (Hemophilus influenzae) bacteria can lead to cellulitis, especially on the face, arms and upper torso. Cellulitis caused by a dog or cat bite or scratch may be caused by the Pasteurella multocida bacteria, which has a very short incubation period for just 4 to 24 hours.
Aeromonas hydrophilia, vibrio vulnificus and other bacteria are responsible for cellulitis that occurs after exposure to fresh water or seawater. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is another kind of bacteria that can cause cellulitis, especially after a puncture injury.
Cellulitis cannot be transferred from one person to another because it infects the soft tissue in the deep layers of the skin (the dermis and subcutaneous tissue), and the skin’s outer layer (the epidermis) serves as a covering over the infection.
Cellulitis is not the same as impetigo, which affects the superficial skin layer and can be spread from one person to another.