The clinical features of severe multi-space infections of the head and neck in patients with diabetes mellitus compared to non-diabetic patients.

We have recorded the clinical features of diabetic patients with multispace infections of the head and neck and compared them with those of non-diabetic patients. We retrospectively studied 191 patients who were treated for severe multispace infections of the head and neck, and compared the patients' background, the aetiology of the infection, clinical variables, laboratory values (microbiology, and blood glucose concentration, white cell count (WCC), and percentage of neutrophils on admission) and treatment (the number of incisions, complications and duration of hospital stay). Statistical analyses of the differences between groups were made with Student's t test, the chi square test, and analysis of variance, as appropriate. Diabetic patients had more spaces involved concurrently (P=0.02), required more incisions for drainage (P=0.002), had longer hospital stays (P<0.0001), and developed more complications (P=0.02). Two diabetic patients died. We conclude that diabetic patients are more likely to develop complications and the complications are more likely to be severe than those in non-diabetic patients.