A Five-Year Retrospective Study of 746 Cases with Maxillofacial Space Infection in Western China

PURPOSE: To grasp the current epidemiological situation of maxillofacial space infection and investigate the risk factors contributing to the longer hospitalization of odontogenic space infection in western China. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study collected the clinical characteristics from 746 hospitalized patients with maxillofacial space infection and investigated the risk factors associated with longer hospitalization. Pearson’s chi-square test and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 438 males and 308 females were included in this study, aging from 1 to 90 years (mean age 48.6 years). 74.9% cases resulted from odontogenic infections, with the submandibular space being the most commonly involved space (53.7%). Advanced age (OR (>60 y:19–60 y:≤18 y) = 3.784:3.416:1, p < 0.05), treatment before admission (OR = 2.271, p < 0.05) and number of involved spaces (OR (≥4:2–3:1) = 3.204:1.931:1, p < 0.05) were closely related to longer hospitalization. Streptococcus being the most frequently found aerobic bacteria (268/615, 43.6%) of all the bacteria isolated was resistant to clarithromycin (91.5%) and erythromycin (92.8%). CONCLUSION: Hospitalization time could be longer for patients with the identified risk factors. Streptococcus, as the most common type of aerobic flora, is highly resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin.