TY - JOUR
T1 - Klebsiella pneumoniae fascial space infections of the head and neck in Taiwan
T2 - Emphasis on diabetic patients and repetitive infections
AU - Chang, Chia-Ming
AU - Lu, Feng-Hwa
AU - Guo, How-Ran
AU - Ko, Wen-Chien
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Objectives. To assess the epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of head and neck infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods. We reviewed records of four common aerobic pathogens isolated by the microbiological laboratory of a teaching hospital in Taiwan from July 1995 to December 1999. Patients aged 14 or older with community-acquired fascial space infections of head and neck were identified by review of medical records and included in the study. Results. A total of 100 cases were identified, and K. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen of monomicrobial infections (48%), followed by viridans streptococci (15%). Polymicrobial infections were noted in 35 cases. In comparison with patients with infections not caused by K. pneumoniae, those with monomicrobial K. pneumoniae infections were older (P=0.04) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001), a longer duration of antimicrobial therapy (P = 0.007), a longer hospital stay (P = 0.001), and more repetitive infections (P = 0.001). All but one of K. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to first generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. Conclusions. K. pneumoniae is an important endemic pathogen of fascial space infections of head and neck in Taiwan, especially among diabetics. Physicians should be aware of the tendency of this organism to cause repetitive infection.
AB - Objectives. To assess the epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of head and neck infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods. We reviewed records of four common aerobic pathogens isolated by the microbiological laboratory of a teaching hospital in Taiwan from July 1995 to December 1999. Patients aged 14 or older with community-acquired fascial space infections of head and neck were identified by review of medical records and included in the study. Results. A total of 100 cases were identified, and K. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen of monomicrobial infections (48%), followed by viridans streptococci (15%). Polymicrobial infections were noted in 35 cases. In comparison with patients with infections not caused by K. pneumoniae, those with monomicrobial K. pneumoniae infections were older (P=0.04) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001), a longer duration of antimicrobial therapy (P = 0.007), a longer hospital stay (P = 0.001), and more repetitive infections (P = 0.001). All but one of K. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to first generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. Conclusions. K. pneumoniae is an important endemic pathogen of fascial space infections of head and neck in Taiwan, especially among diabetics. Physicians should be aware of the tendency of this organism to cause repetitive infection.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jinf.2003.11.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jinf.2003.11.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 15603838
AN - SCOPUS:11144286654
SN - 0163-4453
VL - 50
SP - 34
EP - 40
JO - Journal of Infection
JF - Journal of Infection
IS - 1
ER -