Epidemiologic review of pediatric and adult maxillofacial infections in hospitalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies documented that location of infection (upper face versus lower face) was a useful tool in managing pediatric facial infections. This study's two objectives were (1) to determine if location of infection was a useful parameter for managing adults with maxillofacial infections, and (2) to compare and contrast the epidemiologic patterns of maxillofacial infections in adults and children.


METHODS
We used a retrospective cohort study design to review the medical records of adults (age > or = 18) and children (age < or = 14) admitted for treatment of facial infections. Study variables were grouped into the following sets: demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data. Bivariate data analyses were used to measure associations between study variables.


RESULTS
The study sample was composed of 339 adults and 143 pediatric patients. For adult patients, upper and lower face infections could be differentiated on the basis of age, admission white blood cell count, cause of infection, microbiologic variability, treatment, and duration of outpatient treatment. Adults and children with facial infections differed as to duration of preadmission symptoms, presence of constitutional symptoms, admission temperature, location of infection, source of infection, culture results, treatment, duration of treatment, and complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Location of infection may not be a clinically useful parameter in managing adults with facial infection. Important differences exist between adults and children with facial infection. The management of pediatric facial infections should reflect these differences.
Scutari
P
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Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
Dodson
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents