Referral criteria from primary care - leg ulcer infection

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)

Reference:

• NICE (2020). Leg ulcer infection: antimicrobial prescribing.