Risk factors for recurrent lower extremity cellulitis in a U.S. Veterans Medical Center population.
BACKGROUND
Despite the frequency of recurrent acute cellulitis of the lower extremities, factors associated with this infection have not been previously assessed in a case-control study among patients admitted to U.S. hospitals.


METHODS
We compared the clinical characteristics of 47 patients with those of 94 age- and sex-matched control subjects admitted to the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


RESULTS
In a multivariate analysis, two physical factors, lower extremity edema and body mass index, one behavioral factor, smoking, and one demographic factor, homelessness, were significantly and independently associated with recurrent cellulitis. The latter two factors have not previously been reported to be independently associated with cellulitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that increased emphasis on weight loss, smoking cessation, and improved foot hygiene in the homeless might decrease recurrences of lower extremity cellulitis.
Lewis
Susanne Doblecki
SD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida 33125, USA.
Peter
Garnet S
GS
Gómez-Marín
Orlando
O
Bisno
Alan L
AL
D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004487:Edema; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014026:Nicotiana; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs