title: Hospitalizations for cellulitis in Canada: a database study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cellulitis is the skin disease most commonly responsible for emergency department visits and inpatient admissions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine factors associated with prolonged admissions and mortality in inpatients with cellulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on patients with an admission diagnosis of cellulitis from 2004 to 2008 in the Canadian Discharge Abstract Database were analyzed. Factors associated with mortality and prolonged hospital stay (> 7 days) were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analysis through logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 65,454 patients were hospitalized for cellulitis. Factors associated with prolonged admission included admission to or consultation by a surgical service (OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.17-2.43) and dermatology consultation (OR 4.50, 95% CI 3.92-5.17). Factors associated with mortality included surgical (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76) or infectious disease (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39-2.21) consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misdiagnosis of cellulitis, suggested by the use of consulting services, may play a role in the morbidity and mortality of cellulitis patients.
authors.forename: Akerke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baibergenova
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Shear
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies