title: Perichondritis of the auricle: analysis of 114 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perichondritis of the auricle is a serious disease that may lead to residual deformity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess our experience with perichondritis in a large group of patients hospitalized with this entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 114 patients who were admitted with perichondritis during 1987-2004, including their demographic details, medical history, current illness, etiology, pathogens and treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' mean age was 41.8 +/- 20.7 years. In more than half of the patients the etiology could not be determined. Forty-seven patients (41%) were treated prior to hospitalization for an average of 2.5 +/- 1.9 days. Eight patients (7%) required surgical intervention. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the predominant organism (69% of available isolates) and was associated with a more advanced clinical presentation and longer hospitalization (P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perichondritis develops in many cases after apparent minor trauma. Since P. aeruginosa is probably the predominant pathogen, initial treatment should include anti-pseudomonal antibiotics.
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit and Travel Clinic, Bnai Zion Medical Center, affiliated with Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Erez
authors: E
authors: Davidi
authors: Alona
authors: A
authors: Paz
authors: Hava
authors: H
authors: Duchman
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Luntz
authors: Israel
authors: I
authors: Potasman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents