Hospitalizations for cellulitis in Canada: a database study

Cellulitis is the skin disease most commonly responsible for emergency department visits and inpatient admissions.

To determine factors associated with prolonged admissions and mortality in inpatients with cellulitis.

Data on patients with an admission diagnosis of cellulitis from 2004 to 2008 in the Canadian Discharge Abstract Database were analyzed. Factors associated with mortality and prolonged hospital stay (> 7 days) were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analysis through logistic regression.

During the study period, 65,454 patients were hospitalized for cellulitis. Factors associated with prolonged admission included admission to or consultation by a surgical service (OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.17-2.43) and dermatology consultation (OR 4.50, 95% CI 3.92-5.17). Factors associated with mortality included surgical (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76) or infectious disease (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39-2.21) consultation.

Misdiagnosis of cellulitis, suggested by the use of consulting services, may play a role in the morbidity and mortality of cellulitis patients.