The clinical relevance of microbiology specimens in orofacial abscesses of dental origin

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.

Abstract

Most patients had been discharged from hospital before the results of their antimicrobial susceptibility testing were available, and even when they were available, for none did the result change their antimicrobial therapy.

Main

Fowell C, Igbokwe B et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2012; 94: 490–492

In this retrospective single-centre cohort study, clinical data pertaining to 79 patients admitted with orofacial abscesses were interrogated. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on samples taken from three-quarters of these patients. Treatment comprised drainage combined with the empirical use of intravenous antibiotics (usually amoxicillin and metronidazole) and then as outpatients, oral antimicrobial therapy. Ninety percent of patients had been discharged before interim microbiology results were available (usually 3.25 days after specimen collection). Excluding salaries, the cost of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for one specimen is £25–£30. Although the authors suggest routine testing 'has no therapeutic value', they do state that such testing would be indicated for those patients with co-morbidities.