Erez Davidi1, Alona Paz, Hava Duchman, Michal Luntz, Israel Potasman. 1. Infectious Diseases Unit and Travel Clinic, Bnai Zion Medical Center, affiliated with Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Perichondritis of the auricle is a serious disease that may lead to residual deformity. OBJECTIVES: To assess our experience with perichondritis in a large group of patients hospitalized with this entity. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 114 patients who were admitted with perichondritis during 1987-2004, including their demographic details, medical history, current illness, etiology, pathogens and treatments. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 41.8 +/- 20.7 years. In more than half of the patients the etiology could not be determined. Forty-seven patients (41%) were treated prior to hospitalization for an average of 2.5 +/- 1.9 days. Eight patients (7%) required surgical intervention. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the predominant organism (69% of available isolates) and was associated with a more advanced clinical presentation and longer hospitalization (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Perichondritis develops in many cases after apparent minor trauma. Since P. aeruginosa is probably the predominant pathogen, initial treatment should include anti-pseudomonal antibiotics.
BACKGROUND:Perichondritis of the auricle is a serious disease that may lead to residual deformity. OBJECTIVES: To assess our experience with perichondritis in a large group of patients hospitalized with this entity. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 114 patients who were admitted with perichondritis during 1987-2004, including their demographic details, medical history, current illness, etiology, pathogens and treatments. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 41.8 +/- 20.7 years. In more than half of the patients the etiology could not be determined. Forty-seven patients (41%) were treated prior to hospitalization for an average of 2.5 +/- 1.9 days. Eight patients (7%) required surgical intervention. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the predominant organism (69% of available isolates) and was associated with a more advanced clinical presentation and longer hospitalization (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS:Perichondritis develops in many cases after apparent minor trauma. Since P. aeruginosa is probably the predominant pathogen, initial treatment should include anti-pseudomonal antibiotics.