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Abdominal wall cellulitis in the morbidly obese.
Bjorg Thorsteinsdottir1, Imad M Tleyjeh, Larry M Baddour
1Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA. Thorsteinsdottir.bjorg@mayo.edu.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|September 6, 2005
Summary
Abdominal wall cellulitis is a unique infection in morbidly obese patients. This study highlights its occurrence, complications, and recurrence in this population, emphasizing the need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Obesity Medicine
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Obesity is a significant public health issue, affecting nearly two-thirds of the US population.
- Obesity is linked to various health complications, including an increased susceptibility to infections like lower extremity cellulitis.
- Abdominal wall cellulitis in morbidly obese individuals is an under-recognized syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical experience and characteristics of abdominal wall cellulitis in patients with morbid obesity.
- To identify the incidence, patient demographics, and outcomes associated with this specific infection.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of clinical and microbiologic data was conducted.
- Patients with both cellulitis and morbid obesity treated at the Mayo Clinic between January 1998 and August 2003 were identified.
- Data collected included patient demographics, body mass index (BMI), surgical history, and infection-related outcomes.
Main Results:
- Out of 260 cellulitis cases, 24 (9.2%) involved morbidly obese patients with abdominal wall cellulitis.
- The mean BMI was 62.3, and over two-thirds of the affected patients were female.
- Seventy-one percent had a history of abdominal surgery, and 29.1% experienced recurrent cellulitis.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal wall cellulitis represents a distinct infectious complication in the morbidly obese population.
- This condition is associated with significant morbidity, including hospitalizations and recurrent infections.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathogenesis and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies.