Deep neck infection in elderly patients. A single institution experience (2000-2004)

Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immunologic function in healthy individuals, seems to contribute to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections in the elderly population. The present study describes elderly patients' susceptibility to deep neck infection and prognosis.

Between January 2000 and March 2004, 103 patients were admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Padova for deep neck infection. Twenty-four patients (23%) were over 65 (elderly patients). The remaining 79 patients (77%) aged < or =65 years (adult non-elderly patients) were also studied. Presentation modalities, origin of infection, site of deep neck infection, radiological investigations, bacteriology, treatment and outcome were all studied.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most commonly associated systemic diseases in both elderly and non-elderly patients. The number of patients with associated systemic diseases was significantly higher in the elderly group. The most common cause of deep neck infection was dental infection in both age groups. In the elderly group, salivary gland origin had the same incidence as dental origin. Twenty-two patients (6 elderly patients) were treated only with intravenous antibiotic therapy and intravenous steroids. Overall, in 81 cases (78.6%) (18 elderly patients) medical plus surgical procedures were indicated. None of the treated patients died of deep neck infection or its complications.

Although the incidence of associated systemic diseases and complications of deep neck infections were higher in the elderly group, our medical or medical plus surgical approaches to deep neck infections, based on clinical and radiological evidence, were successful in all patients treated.