title: Deep neck cellulitis: limitations of conservative treatment with antibiotics.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  When the parapharyngeal space is infected, concurrent involvement of other spaces is likely, and involvement of multiple deep neck spaces is a key risk factor for abscess formation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Deep neck infection is treated with antibiotics when abscesses have not yet been formed. However, in some cases, abscesses will form later and surgical drainage is warranted. This study retrospectively examined which cases were less likely to achieve cure, to clarify the limitations of conservative treatment for deep neck cellulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects comprised 19 patients with deep neck cellulitis who initially underwent conservative treatment with antibiotics. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 7), patients who recovered by conservative treatment; and Group B (n = 12), patients who did not recover and underwent surgical drainage. Age, state of DM control, etiology, treatment, spaces infected, and duration of hospitalization were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of infected spaces was one in all Group A patients, whereas Group B showed multiple infected spaces in all except two cases. In particular, among the 10 cases with parapharyngeal space infection, eight (80%) showed multiple lesions.
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Hirasawa
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Kiyoaki
authors: K
authors: Tsukahara
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Ray
authors: R
authors: Motohashi
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Endo
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Sato
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Yuri
authors: Y
authors: Ueda
authors: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Abscess formation; infected space; surgical drainage