Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in Pediatric Deep Neck Space Infection.

Abstract

Introduction  Neck space infection in the pediatric age group is common but can be life-threatening if not diagnosed properly. Since it is a polymicrobial disease, antibiotic usage should be guided by culture sensitivity pattern. Objectives  To assess the microbiology, antibiotic resistance pattern and the outcome of the medical and surgical management of deep neck space infection in children. Methods  This was a prospective study of children admitted for management of neck space infection from August 2017 to August 2018. The age, gender, organisms isolated, sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics, length of hospital stay, complications, and recurrence were noted. The descriptive data were analyzed. Results  Out of 108 cases, there were 51 males (47.2%) and 57 females (52.8%) ranging from 1 month to 15 years, with a mean age of 5.32 +/- 4.35 years. The mean period of hospitalization was 6.98 days. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated with less coagulase-negative staphylococci and streptococci. Clindamycin was the most sensitive drug (82.35%) followed by vancomycin and cloxcillin, while amoxicillin/ampicillin, a commonly used drug, was the least sensitive (20.58%). The abscess recurrence rate was 9.28%. The outcomes of either medical treatment or a combined medical or surgical treatment in properly selected cases were comparable. Conclusion  Clindamycin or cloxacillin can be used as a first-line option for neck infection in children. Ampicillin/amoxicillin alone has a small role in neck abscess because of high resistance to this type of antibiotic.

• Authors: Bijaya Kharel, Kapil Shahi, Urmila Gurung
• Journal: International archives of otorhinolaryngology (Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 26 Issue 4 Pg. e585-e591 (Oct 2022) ISSN: 1809-9777 [Print] Brazil
• PMID: 36405467 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).