A Five-Year Retrospective Study of 746 Cases with Maxillofacial Space Infection in Western China.

PURPOSE

To grasp the current epidemiological situation of maxillofacial space infection and investigate the risk factors contributing to the longer hospitalization of odontogenic space infection in western China.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study collected the clinical characteristics from 746 hospitalized patients with maxillofacial space infection and investigated the risk factors associated with longer hospitalization. Pearson's chi-square test and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 438 males and 308 females were included in this study, aging from 1 to 90 years (mean age 48.6 years). 74.9% cases resulted from odontogenic infections, with the submandibular space being the most commonly involved space (53.7%). Advanced age (OR (>60 y:19-60 y:≤18 y) = 3.784:3.416:1, p < 0.05), treatment before admission (OR = 2.271, p < 0.05) and number of involved spaces (OR (≥4:2-3:1) = 3.204:1.931:1, p < 0.05) were closely related to longer hospitalization. Streptococcus being the most frequently found aerobic bacteria (268/615, 43.6%) of all the bacteria isolated was resistant to clarithromycin (91.5%) and erythromycin (92.8%).

CONCLUSION

Hospitalization time could be longer for patients with the identified risk factors. Streptococcus, as the most common type of aerobic flora, is highly resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin.