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Published on: February 9, 2011

Soft tissue infections in children: a retrospective analysis of 242 hospitalized patients

Gonul Tanir1, Alparslan Tonbul, Nilden Tuygun

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Center, Ankara, Turkey. gonultanir58@yahoo.com

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric soft tissue infections (STIs) are common, often requiring antibiotics. This study analyzed 242 children, finding cellulitis most frequent and identifying common treatments and outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Therapy

Background:

  • Pediatric soft tissue infections (STIs) are a frequent reason for antimicrobial therapy in children.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and management of STIs is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To retrospectively analyze the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of pediatric patients hospitalized with soft tissue infections.
  • To identify common pathogens, predisposing factors, and therapeutic strategies for STIs in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 242 pediatric patients hospitalized with STIs between January 2000 and January 2004.
  • Data collected included patient demographics, STI type, predisposing factors, microbiological findings, antimicrobial therapy, surgical interventions, and clinical outcomes.
  • Analysis of inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and duration of antibiotic therapy.

Main Results:

  • Cellulitis was the most common STI (39.7%), followed by cervical lymphadenitis (25.6%) and cervical abscess (20.2%).
  • Predisposing factors were identified in 42.2% of patients; Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were common pathogens.
  • Initial antibiotic choices included ampicillin/sulbactam (68.6%), ceftriaxone/cefotaxime (24.0%), and ceftriaxone plus clindamycin (7.4%). Surgical drainage was performed in 86.7% of abscess cases.
  • Mean duration of parenteral antibiotic therapy was 10 days, influenced by admission inflammatory marker levels. Complications occurred in 4.8% of patients, with no mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric soft tissue infections encompass a range of conditions, with cellulitis being most prevalent.
  • Effective management involves appropriate antimicrobial therapy, often combined with surgical intervention for abscesses.
  • Treatment duration and outcomes are influenced by initial disease severity and inflammatory markers, highlighting the need for tailored therapeutic approaches.

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