Risk stratification and outcome of cellulitis admitted to hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors associated with mortality and adverse outcome of community acquired cellulitis/erysipelas requiring hospital admission.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 395 episodes of cellulitis/erysipelas admitted to a tertiary referral hospital between January 1999 and December 2006.
RESULTS: Mortality was 2.5% (10/395). There were 112 complications (28.4%). Median hospitalisation was 5 days. Factors independently associated with mortality, adverse outcome and prolonged stay (>7 days) were bacteraemia and albumin <30 g/L. A risk stratification model was designed based on factors independently associated with adverse outcome: altered mental status, neutrophilia/paenia, discharge from the cellulitic area, hypoalbuminaemia and history of congestive cardiac failure. Adverse outcome risk among patients with scores <4, 6-9 and >9 was <20%, 55% and 100%, respectively. All patients who died had admission score >or=4. Factors independently associated with prolonged hospitalisation were: age >60, symptom duration >4 days, hypoalbuminaemia, bacteraemia, isolation of MRSA and time to effective antibiotics >8 h. MRSA was more frequent among patients admitted during 2003-2006 (OR 2.43, 95% CI: 1-12-5.27). Streptococci accounted for most bacteraemia (11/20). Infectious Disease physician input was independently associated with shorter hospitalisation.
CONCLUSIONS: Cellulitis/erysipelas requiring hospitalisation confers considerable morbidity and mortality. Clinical markers present on admission can be used to stratify patient risk of mortality and adverse outcome. Copyright (c) 2010 The British Infection Society. All rights reserved.