Clinical Statistical Investigation of Odontogenic Infections Requiring Hospitalization at Our Institution

Hospitalization may be indicated for patients with exacerbated odontogenic infection. The present study investigated clinical statistics regarding cases of odontogenic infection requiring hospitalization examined at the Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Tokyo Dental College between January 2010 and March 2014. Data from patients (n=150) who had an identifiable source of odontogenic focal infection were investigated regarding the following parameters: sex, age, underlying disease, source tooth, causative agent, prescribed antimicrobial agent, C-reactive protein level on initial examination, white blood cell count on initial examination, length of hospitalization, and path of intraoral infection spread. The results revealed 99 male and 51 female patients aged between 2 and 91 years old (mean age, 50.3 years). A total of 96 patients (64.0%) had an underlying disease, among which hypertension and diabetes mellitus were prevalent. With regard to causative agents, detection rates of Streptococcus and b-lactamase producing bacteria such as Prevotella, Fusobacterium were high. The most common paths of infection spread were, in order, the submandibular, sublingual and buccal spaces originating from a mandibular molar. The primary treatment methods for odontogenic infection are antiphlogistic procedures to surgically establish a drainage route and antimicrobial administration; however, the present findings demonstrate the need for prompt antiphlogistic therapy, strict observation and appropriate management of underlying disease in an inpatient setting due to the risk of sudden exacerbation 

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