Cellulitis

Summary

Cellulitis (MONDO:0005230) is a disease with 27 GWAS associations across 74 studies and 72 clinical trials. Top therapeutic interventions include cephalexin anhydrous, vancomycin, and clindamycin. A subtype of vesiculobullous skin disease — broader associated-gene and molecular evidence is on the parent page (see Disease family below).

At a glance

• GWAS associations: 27
• Clinical trials: 72

Clinical features

No curated clinical features (Orphanet) for this disease.

Identifiers

Disease identifiers

Field	Value
Canonical name	cellulitis
Mondo ID	MONDO:0005230
EFO	EFO:0003035
MeSH	D002481
DOID	DOID:3488
NCIT	C26715
SNOMED CT	128045006
UMLS	C0007642
MedGen	40174
Is cancer (heuristic)	no

Also known as: cellulitis · cellulitis (disease)

Data availability: 27 GWAS associations (74 studies) · 1 HPO phenotype.

Disease family

This is a subtype of vesiculobullous skin disease. Genetic, therapeutic, and trial evidence is largely curated at the broader-term level — see the parent page for the associated-gene cohort and molecular evidence.

Classification path: disease › human disease › disease by body system or component › integumentary system disorder › skin disorder › vesiculobullous skin disease › cellulitis

Related subtypes (7): herpes zoster, chickenpox, gas gangrene, epidermolysis bullosa, autoimmune bullous skin disease, eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, papular urticaria

Subtypes (3): Ludwig’s angina, orbital cellulitis, anaerobic cellulitis

Genetics & variants

GWAS landscape

27 GWAS associations across 74 studies. Top hits map to 13 distinct genes (as reported by GWAS).

Top associations by p-value

rsID	p-value	Gene	Risk allele	Odds ratio
rs1558902	2e-28	FTO	T	0.11
rs9927317	2e-27	FTO	C	0.06
rs62048402	3e-25	FTO	G	0.11
rs17817712	1e-23	FTO	A	0.06
chr11:28741136	3e-16		A	0.05
chr14:99669005	5e-15		G	0.05
chr5:128014857	2e-14		T	0.07
chr9:5073770	6e-14		T	1.03
rs13107325	2e-13	SLC39A8	C	0.07
rs3933088	1e-12	BCL11B	T	0.04
rs552158554	9e-12	ZNF277-AS1, ZNF277	G	2.01
rs545197812	2e-11	NAV1, IPO9-AS1	G	3.57
rs546882621	3e-11	IPO4	G	3.79
rs189033558	3e-11	BNC1	G	2.07
chr6:70380262	9e-09		A	2.34
rs35441103	1e-08	TENM2	?
chr13:83055968	1e-08		TATATA	2.37
chrX:152102444	2e-08		TAG	1.07
rs185308479	3e-08	GNAL	?
chr2:106180298	3e-08		T	1.39
rs181428954	4e-08	CDKN2AIPNLP3 - AZU1P1	?
rs1308856665	1e-07	AK6P1 - ZNF970P	?
rs9820329	1e-07	OR7E29P - OR7E93P	?
rs4537545	3e-07	IL6R	?
rs74818536	4e-07	BBX	?
rs62285272	7e-07	PPP4R2P2 - SDHAP1	?

Top studies (by case count)

Study	Lead author	Year	Cases	Controls	Title
GCST90476165	Verma A	2024	72,843	328,574	Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program.
GCST90473905	UK Biobank Whole-Genome Sequencing Consortium	2025	31,758	426,682	Whole-genome sequencing of 490,640 UK Biobank participants.
GCST90476166	Verma A	2024	20,317	412,161	Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program.
GCST90478743	Verma A	2024	19,518	87,520	Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program.
GCST90080331	Backman JD	2021	12,973	361,040	Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants.
GCST90084317	Backman JD	2021	12,973	361,040	Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants.
GCST90281156	Hamilton FW	2023	12,196	474,288	Therapeutic potential of IL6R blockade for the treatment of sepsis and sepsis-related death: A Mendelian randomisation study.
GCST90478746	Verma A	2024	11,729	421,230	Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program.
GCST90478742	Verma A	2024	9,091	44,352	Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program.
GCST90436569	Zhou W	2018	7,451	397,635	Efficiently controlling for case-control imbalance and sample relatedness in large-scale genetic association studies.

Variant details and genetic-evidence tiers

Tier distribution (top 50 variants)

Tier	Variants
Tier 1: coding	1
Tier 2: splice/UTR	2
Tier 3: regulatory	0
Tier 4: intronic/intergenic	23

MAF distribution

Bucket	Variants
common (>=0.05)	12
low_freq (0.01-0.05)	0
rare (<0.01)	4
unknown	10

Functional consequences

Consequence	Count
intron_variant	13
unknown	8
3_prime_UTR_variant	2
intergenic_variant	2
missense_variant	1

Top variants

rsID	Chr	Pos	Alleles	MAF	Consequence	Gene	p-value	Tier
rs1558902	16	53769662	T>A	0.403	intron_variant	FTO	2e-28	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs9927317	16	53787084	C>A,G,T	0.393	intron_variant	FTO	2e-27	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs62048402	16	53769311	G>A,T	0.33	intron_variant	FTO	3e-25	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs17817712	16	53787213	A>G,T	0.322	intron_variant	FTO	1e-23	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr11:28741136				0.439			3e-16	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr14:99669005				0.331			5e-15	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr5:128014857							2e-14	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr9:5073770							6e-14	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs13107325	4	102267552	C>A,T	0.083	missense_variant	SLC39A8	2e-13	Tier 1: coding
rs3933088	14	99238994	T>A,C	0.364	intron_variant	BCL11B	1e-12	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs552158554	7	112344066	G>A,C	0.001	3_prime_UTR_variant	ZNF277-AS1, ZNF277	9e-12	Tier 2: splice/UTR
rs545197812	1	201713642	G>A	0	intron_variant	NAV1, IPO9-AS1	2e-11	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs546882621	14	24184451	G>A,T	0	intron_variant	IPO4	3e-11	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs189033558	15	83273180	G>T	0.001	intron_variant	BNC1	3e-11	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr6:70380262							9e-09	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs35441103	5	167330512	C>A,G,T	0.05	intron_variant	TENM2	1e-08	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chr13:83055968							1e-08	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
chrX:152102444							2e-08	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs185308479	18	11882491	T>G		3_prime_UTR_variant	GNAL	3e-08	Tier 2: splice/UTR
chr2:106180298							3e-08	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs181428954	13	39854242	C>T		intron_variant	CDKN2AIPNLP3 - AZU1P1	4e-08	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs1308856665	12	34713888	C>A,G		intergenic_variant	AK6P1 - ZNF970P	1e-07	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs9820329	3	125713674	G>A,C	0.05	intergenic_variant	OR7E29P - OR7E93P	1e-07	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs4537545	1	154446403	C>T	0.05	intron_variant	IL6R	3e-07	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs74818536	3	107574707	T>C		intron_variant	BBX	4e-07	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic
rs62285272	3	195943607	C>A,T	0.05	intron_variant	PPP4R2P2 - SDHAP1	7e-07	Tier 4: intronic/intergenic

Genes & proteins

No associated-gene cohort resolved for this disease. Atlas builds the molecular and therapeutic sections — associated genes, protein families, druggability, pathways, interactions, and drug associations — by aggregating over a disease’s associated genes (resolved via GWAS / GenCC / ClinVar / CIViC), and none resolved here. This is expected for antibody-mediated, autoimmune, or otherwise non-gene-defined conditions; the curated evidence for this disease is its clinical features, GWAS susceptibility, and clinical trials (above).

Function

No pathway enrichment — requires an associated-gene cohort.

Therapeutics

Drugs indicated for this disease

0 approved, 6 in late-stage (phase 3) trials. Disease-direct ChEMBL indications, not inferred from the associated-gene cohort below.

Drug	Development status
Cefazolin	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)
Dalbavancin	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)
Floxacillin	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)
Linezolid	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)
Moxifloxacin	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)
Vancomycin	Phase 3 (in late-stage trials)

Earlier-phase candidates (phase 2, investigational — efficacy not yet established): Probenecid.

Clinical trials & evidence

Clinical trials

Clinical trials: 72.

Phase distribution (across all retrieved trials)

Phase	Trials
Not specified	43
PHASE4	11
PHASE3	8
PHASE2	7
PHASE2/PHASE3	2
PHASE1	1

Top trials by phase / activity

NCT	Phase	Status	Title
NCT05852262	PHASE4	ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION	High-dose Cephalexin for Cellulitis (HI-DOCC)
NCT07532941	PHASE4	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	Clinical Efficacy of Stopping Oral Antibiotics When Symptoms Stop, Compared to ‘Finishing the Course’
NCT00295178	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Study Comparing CUBICIN® (Daptomycin for Injection) With Vancomycin in Cellulitis or Erysipelas
NCT00552799	PHASE4	COMPLETED	RCT to Investigate if Prophylactic Antibiotics Prevent Further Episodes of Cellulitis (Erysipelas) of the Leg
NCT00746109	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Study of Wound Packing After Superficial Skin Abscess Drainage
NCT01549613	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Evaluation of Daptomycin for the Emergency Department Treatment of Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT01626560	PHASE4	COMPLETED	The Effects of Daptomycin and Cytokines Production in Comparison With Vancomycin
NCT01876628	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Adjunctive Clindamycin for Cellulitis: C4C Trial.
NCT02032654	PHASE4	TERMINATED	Duration of ANtibiotic Therapy for CEllulitis
NCT02922686	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Penicillin for the Emergency Department Outpatient Treatment of CELLulitis
NCT04471246	PHASE4	COMPLETED	High-dose vs. Standard-dose Cephalexin for Cellulitis
NCT00257036	PHASE2/PHASE3	COMPLETED	A Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Levofloxacin Compared With Oral Ciprofloxacin in the Treatment of Adults With Mild to Moderate Infections of the Skin and the Supportive Layers Beneath the Skin
NCT00323219	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Oral Moxifloxacin Versus Cefazolin and Oral Probenecid in the Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in the Emergency Department
NCT00619710	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT01085929	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Incision and Drainage Versus Needle Aspiration in Soft Tissue Abscesses
NCT01252719	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Oritavancin Versus IV Vancomycin for the Treatment of Participants With Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infection (SOLO I)
NCT01252732	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Oritavancin Versus IV Vancomycin for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infection
NCT01339091	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Efficacy and Safety of Dalbavancin for the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT01431339	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Efficacy and Safety of Dalbavancin for the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT02127970	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Single Dose vs. Two Dose Regimen of Dalbavancin for the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT03556917	PHASE2/PHASE3	COMPLETED	The Effects of Iontophoresis in Women With Gynoid Hidrolipodystrophy.
NCT00061633	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Phase 2 Trial of TD 6424 (Telavancin) Versus Standard Therapy for Complicated Gram Positive Skin and Skin Structure Infections (Gram Positive cSSSI)
NCT00514527	PHASE2	COMPLETED	A Study for Patients With Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections
NCT00893048	PHASE2	WITHDRAWN	The Use of Oral Steroids in the Treatment of Cellulitis
NCT00984022	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Aquacel Versus Iodoform Gauze for Filling Abscess Cavity Following Incision and Drainage
NCT01029782	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Comparison of Intravenous Cefazolin Plus Oral Probenecid With Oral Cephalexin for the Treatment of Cellulitis
NCT01519492	PHASE2	COMPLETED	A Study of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of AFN-12520000 in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections Due to Staphylococci
NCT01519778	PHASE2	COMPLETED	A Phase 2 Safety and Exploratory Skin Lesion Measurement of TR-701 FA Study
NCT01557426	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Soft Tissue Ultrasound of Infections
NCT06715306	Not specified	RECRUITING	Intravenous Versus Oral Treatment of the Main Acute Infections
NCT07093749	Not specified	RECRUITING	Perspectives on Antibiotics and Tracking Symptoms in Children
NCT07492030	Not specified	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	Validation of the Use of the Arteriovenous Tension Difference in CO2 Under Hyperbaric Conditions
NCT00139100	Not specified	COMPLETED	Evaluation of Antibacterial Soap for Treatment of Lymphedema in a Filariasis-Endemic Area
NCT00289588	Not specified	COMPLETED	An Attempt to Reduce Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection in Soldiers
NCT00489021	Not specified	UNKNOWN	Feasibility and Outcomes of Older Patients Hospitalization
NCT00636025	Not specified	COMPLETED	Cellulite and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NCT00676130	Not specified	COMPLETED	Study of New Antibiotic Regimen for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Cellulitis in Emergency Department Patients
NCT00714402	Not specified	COMPLETED	Procalcitonin Level and Kinetics in Children With Bacterial Infections
NCT00737269	Not specified	COMPLETED	A Complicated Skin and Soft-tissue Infection Patient Registry
NCT01238276	Not specified	NO_LONGER_AVAILABLE	Direct Antibiotic Delivery of Cefazolin Into Soft Tissue Infections Using Subcutaneous Injection and Ultrasonic Dispersion

Drugs tested across these trials (top 30)

Molecule	Max phase	Trials referencing
CEPHALEXIN ANHYDROUS	4	12
VANCOMYCIN	4	5
CLINDAMYCIN	4	3
DAPTOMYCIN	4	3
PENICILLIN V	4	3
CEFAZOLIN	4	2
DALBAVANCIN	4	2
LEVOFLOXACIN ANHYDROUS	4	2
LINEZOLID	4	2
CAFFEINE	4	1
CEFTOLOZANE	4	1
MEROPENEM	4	1
MOXIFLOXACIN	4	1
MUPIROCIN	4	1
OFLOXACIN	4	1
ORITAVANCIN	4	1
TELAVANCIN	4	1
FLOXACILLIN	3	4
CEPHALOSPORIN	3	1
CHEMBL1649722	0	3
CHEMBL4286784	0	3
CHEMBL4299436	0	3
CHEMBL4744444	0	3
CHEMBL4778239	0	2
CHEMBL4785392	0	2
CHEMBL6174705	0	2
CHEMBL4802121	0	1
CHEMBL5271499	0	1
CHEMBL4793658	0	1
PARAXANTHINE	0	1