Hospital course of HIV-positive patients with odontogenic infections

Effects of immunocompromised status on diagnostic criteria in septic arthritis

Introduction

Septic arthritis is an orthopaedic emergency, with permanent cartilage damage possible within hours of the onset of symptoms. Diagnostic criteria for septic arthritis in immunocompetent patients are well established, however, there is a paucity of literature evaluating diagnostic criteria in immunocompromised patients. The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to evaluate the laboratory and clinical information of immunocompromised patients with septic arthritis and compare them to immunocompetent patients with septic arthritis to enable physicians to diagnose septic arthritis more accurately in this population.

Methods

All patients at our institution, a level I trauma center, with a clinical diagnosis of septic arthritis between January 1, 2006 and November 1, 2021 were identified and reviewed retrospectively. Patients 18 years old or older were screened for immunocompromised status and those meeting criteria were included for review. The control cohort was matched by the joint affected and age. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Turkey's test, Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t-test, and chi-square analysis. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 36 patients with positive joint aspirate cultures were compared (18 immunocompetent and 18 immunocompromised). The immunocompromised group had a significantly longer length of hospital stay than the immunocompetent group (p = 0.044). There was no significant difference in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p = 0.852), peripheral white blood cell count (pWBC) (p = 0.696), joint aspirate white blood cell count (aWBC) (p = 0.901), polymorphonuclear cell percentage (PMN%) (p = 0.325), or total operations performed per patient (p = 0.365).

Conclusion

At our institution, immunocompromised patients with septic arthritis did not have significantly different diagnostic laboratory values when compared to immunocompetent patients. This suggests that immunocompromised patients with suspicion of septic arthritis can be assessed with similar diagnostic criteria as immunocompetent individuals; however, a larger cohort study is needed to assess the difference more precisely in laboratory values.

Decision-making in awake fibre optic intubation for patients with severe dentofacial infection: which patients will require fibre optic intubation?

BACKGROUND

Risk factors for advanced airway intervention among patients with dentofacial infection (DFI) are poorly understood. The appropriate delivery of clinical care to this patient group raises challenging anaesthetic service provision issues. The purpose of this study was to identify factors which may predict a requirement for an awake fibre optic intubation (AFOI) technique for airway management in this patient population.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data for consecutive patients admitted with DFI were analysed at the Oral & Maxillofacial department at St James's Hospital, Dublin from July 2014-July 2015 was carried out. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined optimal cut-off values predictive of AFOI, and multivariate logistic regression determined independent risk factors for AFOI.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-five patients (64 male, 61 female) were admitted with DFI. The mean age was 35.9 years (range 16-91). AFOI was carried out in 58 (67.4%) patients who required GA. Increasing age was associated with an increase likelihood of AFOI (P = 0.047 95% CI 1.07(1.00-1.14). Reduced mouth opening was significantly associated with requirement for AFOI (28.8 ± 8.6 vs. 14.8 ± 8.6 mm, P < 0.0001). On receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, mouth opening predicted requirement for AFOI with 87% accuracy (AUC 0.87 [95% CI 0.80-0.95], P < 0.0001). Using a cut-off value of 16.5 mm predicted subsequent AFOI with 96.7% (95% CI 78.1-100.0%) specificity and 65.6% (95% CI 51.4-77.8%) sensitivity. Initial C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly associated with requirement for AFOI (60.1 ± 40.0 vs. 121.3 ± 89.8, P = 0.002). A CRP value of over 110 mg/L predicted subsequent AFOI with 95.8% (95% CI 78.9-100.0%) specificity.

CONCLUSION

Increasing age, reduced mouth opening < 16.5 mm, and an increased serum admission CRP > 100 mg/L on admission significantly increase the requirement for AFOI on multivariate and univariate regression analysis. The availability of anaesthetists experienced in AFOI is essential for safe management of these patients.

Retrospective analysis of etiology and comorbid diseases associated with Ludwig's Angina

INTRODUCTION

Ludwig's angina (LA) still presents regularly at our tertiary academic hospital. Various etiologies and comorbid diseases are documented worldwide, but the South African population has not been studied.

AIM

To establish whether LA cases presenting to the department are different from international reports regarding etiology and comorbidities.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of patients presenting with LA to a tertiary hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

93 patients were included over a 5-year period. Archived files were analyzed for data including age, gender, comorbid diseases, etiology, airway management, and season on admission.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistics with the inclusion of frequency distributions.

RESULTS

93 patients were included; 65 (69.9%) male and 28 (30.1%) female; age - minimum 20 years, maximum 75 years, mean 40.366.

ETIOLOGY

68 (73.1%) odontogenic, 13 (14%) nonodontogenic, and 12 (12.9%) unknown cause. Comorbid diseases: 21 (22.6%) diabetes mellitus (DM), 19 (20.4%) hypertension, and 18 (19.4%) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Airway management: 61 (65.6%) tracheostomy and 32 (34.4%) nonsurgical.

COMPLICATIONS

11 (11.8%) deaths, 8 (8.60%) descending mediastinitis, and 7 (7.53%) necrotizing fasciitis. Seasonal occurrence: 30 (32.3%) spring, 24 (25.8%) winter, 22 (23.7%) summer, and 17 (18.3%) autumn.

CONCLUSION

A 2.32:1 ratio male: female presentation mirrors previous statistics. DM patients had increased risks of complications, which resulted in multiple deaths. HIV patients showed increased risks for complications with more intense, longer hospital stays, but lower percentages of deaths compared to patients with DM and complications who died. There was no statistically significant finding regarding seasonal tendency.

Odontogenic infections: an 8-year epidemiologic analysis in a dental emergency outpatient care unit

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze epidemiological patterns, clinical features and the management of odontogenic infections in patients undergoing treatment in a dental emergency outpatient care unit.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of 58 161 case records of patients presenting to an emergency outpatient unit in Hamburg, Germany between 2000-2007 was performed. From this pool, patients with odontogenic infections were identified using an ICD-10 code, analyzing age, gender, medical co-morbidities, duration of pain, ratio of infiltrates/abscesses, affected teeth, management of infection and administered antibiotics.

RESULTS

Of the 58 161 patients, 5357 (9.2%) were identified as having odontogenic infections, with 2689 (50.2%) inflammatory infiltrates and 2668 (49.8%) abscesses. Mean age was 34.8 ± 16.8 years. As the primary site of odontogenic infection, the most significantly affected teeth were the maxillary and mandibular first molars. Patients in age-group 20-29 years (25.1%) utilized the emergency care unit more frequently than other age groups. Clindamycin was the most frequently administered antibiotic.

CONCLUSIONS

Early recognition, diagnosis and management of odontogenic infections are requisite for avoiding or minimizing the development of potential complications. Strategies and evidence-based protocols should be developed within the dental ambulatory care sector, advancing interdisciplinary cooperation between general dentists and oral or maxillofacial surgeons.

Infection following treatment of mandible fractures: the role of immunosuppression and polysubstance abuse

OBJECTIVE

There is little data available on the relationship between immunosuppression and polysubstance abuse and postoperative infection in patients with mandibular fractures. In this study we aimed to assess these parameters.

STUDY DESIGN

This study sample consisted of 120 patients who were admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Washington Hospital Center between January of 1999 and February of 2002. Patient charts were reviewed and data regarding fracture location, mode of treatment, type of antibiotic therapy, and outcome of treatment including postoperative complications were also recorded. Patient's medical and social histories were also reviewed for a history of diabetes mellitus (DM), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, alcohol abuse, and intravenous drug abuse (IVDA).

RESULTS

Of the 120 patients in this study, 17 (14.1%) patients were identified as having a postoperative infection. Among those with postoperative infections, 8 (6.7%) had history of immunosuppression or polysubstance abuse. The strongest association found in this review is the relationship between alcohol (P = 0.50) and IVDA (P = 0.68), and the development of post-operative infections. There was also an increased rate of postoperative infection in HIV-positive patients (P = 0.71) and DM patients (P = 0.77).

CONCLUSION

In our study, we observed an increased risk for post-operative infection in HIV-positive individuals and diabetics. This finding lends support to other studies, which have shown a higher incidence of infection in HIV-positive individuals. We also observed an increased risk for postoperative infection among patients with history of alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, in treatment planning for the correction of mandible fractures in patients with histories of substance abuse, it seems appropriate to make efforts to decrease the postoperative risk.

Severe odontogenic infections, part 2: prospective outcomes study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify significant predictors of 4 outcomes in patients with severe odontogenic infections: abscess formation, penicillin therapeutic failure (PTF), length of hospital stay (LOS), and need for reoperation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used a prospective case series study design and enrolled 37 consecutive patients admitted for severe odontogenic infection between March 1996 and June 1999. Treatment consisted of intravenous penicillin (PCN) or clindamycin in PCN-allergic patients, surgical incision and drainage, and extraction(s) as soon as possible. Study variables were categorized as demographic, preadmission, time-related, preoperative, anatomic, treatment, microbiologic, and complications. The primary outcome variables were abscess formation, PTF, LOS, and reoperation. Multivariate linear and logistic regression techniques were used to measure associations between study variables and the outcome variables.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 37 subjects (23 male, 14 female) with a mean age of 34.9 +/- 15.8 years. Multivariate analyses, controlling for confounding variables, indicated that culture of Peptostreptococci was a negative predictor of abscess formation. LOS was predicted by the number of infected spaces and duration of operation. There was no significant predictor of PTF or reoperation on multivariate analysis, although PCN-resistant organisms were isolated in all cases of PTF.

CONCLUSION

Increased LOS in severe odontogenic infections is predicted by the anatomic extent and severity of the infection and the occurrence of complications such as PTF and the need for reoperation. PTF is significantly associated with later identification of PCN-resistant organisms. The role of Peptostreptococci in abscess formation warrants further investigation.

HIV disease

Much has been learned about HIV disease during its first 20 years of existence in North America. The virus can now be successfully suppressed by HAART therapy, yet complete viral eradication from the body has not been demonstrated, and HIV transmissions continue to occur at an alarming rate. With support of the immune system, many HIV-infected patients will avoid oral and systemic opportunistic illnesses (or at least significantly prolong their time to onset). The number of HIV-infected patients under dental care is expected to increase in the future. Thus, dentists are fortunate that oral health care can be provided safely in the community setting for all but the very sickest of AIDS patients.

A systematic review of complication risks for HIV-positive patients undergoing invasive dental procedures

BACKGROUND

This systematic literature review determined the strength of evidence regarding whether patients with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, are at higher risk of developing complications from invasive oral procedures than similar patients without HIV.

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED

MEDLINE and EMBASE searches of the English literature from the early 1980s through April 2000 yielded five articles meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria: original research, concurrent treatment of HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects, presence of complications (for example, local or systemic infection, bleeding, alveolitis, delayed healing) resulting from extractions, orthognathic surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic therapy, placement of dental implants, prophylaxis, or scaling and root planing.

RESULTS

The authors found no studies involving orthognathic surgery, periodontal therapy, dental implants, prophylaxis, or scaling and root planing, and only one study reporting few immediate endodontic therapeutic complications. Thus, the evidence is insufficient with respect to any additional risk associated with these procedures among people with HIV/AIDS. Because of the few studies, low overall complication rates and variability in results from different analytic approaches, the authors consider the evidence to be too poor to rule in or out a meaningful relationship between HIV status and complications from tooth extractions.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Limited published scientific evidence is available to guide clinicians in regard to possible increased risks of invasive oral procedures associated with the HIV status of the patient.