Abstract
Background
Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) involve the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle. Hospitalizations due to SSTIs represent a significant health disparity for American Indians (AI), but specific literature is limited. We characterized SSTI hospitalizations at our critical access hospital that exclusively serves an AI population in the American Southwest.
Methods
We identified patients hospitalized (admitted or transferred) with an SSTI from June 2017 to May 2018. Relevant cases underwent chart extraction for demographics, SSTI characteristics, laboratory and microbiologic data, relevant history and co-morbidities. All variables were summarized using descriptive statistics. Odds ratios and P-values with two-tailed tests were used to identify risk factors for multiple SSTI episodes.
Results
During the study period, 289 unique individuals comprised 343 SSTI hospitalizations / episodes (18% of the 1,883 total hospitalizations). The unadjusted annual rate of SSTI hospitalization was 2,018 per 100,000. There were 13 cases of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) with an unadjusted rate of 76 per 100,000 per year. Only 183 episodes (53%) had a wound culture performed, with 84% positive for a pathogenic organism, compared with 287 episodes (84%) with a blood culture performed, of which only 7% were positive for a pathogen. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive SA (MSSA)and/or Streptococcus pyogenes accounted for 74.9% (n = 125) and co-infection with these three organisms accounted for 22.2% (n = 37) of positive wound cultures (n = 167). An SSTI in the last year (49%), diabetes (41.9%), alcohol abuse (40%) and hypertension (39%) were common among all 289 individuals. Diabetes (OR 3.3, P < 0.01), hypertension (OR 2.8, P < 0.01), renal disease (OR 2.7, P < 0.05), previous SSTI (OR 3.0, P < 0.01) were associated with a higher risk of multiple SSTI hospitalizations.
Conclusion
The incidence rate of SSTI hospitalization in this Southwest AI population was 9-times greater than the general US population and 4-times greater than prior reports in Southwest AI. The NF rate was >10-times the general US population rate. We describe common co-morbidities among these SSTI episodes and potential risk factors for repeat hospitalization.
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.
Risk Factors and Predictors of Mortality in Streptococcal Necrotizing Soft-tissue Infections: A Multicenter Prospective Study