Deep neck space infection may lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications, such as airway obstruction, mediastinitis, septic embolization, dural sinus thrombosis, and intracranial abscess. The clinical presentation is widely variable, and often early symptoms do not reflect the disease severity. The complication risk depends on the extent and anatomical site: diseases that transgress fascial boundaries and spread along vertically oriented spaces (parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal, and paravertebral space) have a higher risk of complications and require a more aggressive treatment compared with those confined within a nonvertically oriented space (peritonsillar, sublingual, submandibular, parotid, and masticator space). Imaging has 5 crucial roles: (1) confirm the suspected clinical diagnosis, (2) define the precise extent of the disease, (3) identify complications, (4) distinguish between drainable abscesses and cellulitis, and (5) monitor deep neck space infection progression. Ultrasonography is the gold standard to differentiate abscesses from cellulitis, for the diagnosis of lymphadenitis. and to identify internal jugular thrombophlebitis in the infrahyoid neck. However, field-of-view limitation and poor anatomical information confine the use of ultrasonography to the evaluation of superficial lesions and to image-guided aspiration or drainage. Computed tomography (CT) combines fast image acquisition and precise anatomical information without field-of-view limitations. For these reasons, it is the most reliable technique for the evaluation of deep and multicompartment lesions and for the identification of mediastinal and intracranial complications. Contrast agent administration enhances the capability to differentiate fluid collections from cellulitis and allows the detection of vascular complications. Magnetic resonance imaging is more time-consuming than CT, limiting its use to selected indications. It is the technique of choice for assessing the epidural space involvement in pre- and paravertebral space infections and complements CT in the evaluation of the infections reaching the skull base.

Emergency Imaging Assessment of Deep Neck Space Infections

The management of odontogenic infections is a typical part of the spectrum of maxillofacial surgery. Normally these infections can be managed in a straight forward way however under certain conditions severe and complicated courses can arise which require interdisciplinary treatment including intensive care. A retrospective analysis of all patients affected by an odontogenic infection that received surgical therapy from 2004 to 2011 under stationary conditions was performed. Surgical treatment consisted in incision and drainage of the abscess supported by additional i.v. antibiotic medication in all patients. Detailed analysis of all patients that required postoperative intensive medical care was additionally performed with respect to special risk factors. During 8 years 814 patients affected by odontogenic infections received surgical treatment under stationary conditions representing 4% of all patients that have been treated during that period (n = 18981). In 14 patients (1.7%) intensive medical therapy after surgery was required, one lethal outcome was documented (0.12%). In all of these 14 patients a history of typical risk factors was present. According to these results two patients per week affected by an odontogenic infection required stationary surgical treatment, about two patients per year were likely to require additional intensive medical care. If well-known risk factors are present in patients affected by odontogenic infection appropriate interdisciplinary management should be considered as early as possible.

Incidence and management of severe odontogenic infections—A retrospective analysis from 2004 to 2011

Background
Diabetes mellitus has been recognized as the most common systemic disease associated with deep neck infection. We report the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the influence of diabetes on clinical and bacteriological characteristics of deep neck infection.

Methods
Articles were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society database. A critical review of 227 studies identified 20 studies eligible for quantitative synthesis.

Results
Diabetes was associated with higher prevalences of multispace spread of infection, complications, and failure to identify pathogenesis, with risk ratios (RRs) of 1.96, 2.42, and 1.29, respectively. Bacteriologically, patients with diabetes showed a higher prevalence of culture identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae (RR, 3.28), and lower prevalences of Streptococcus spp. (RR, 0.57) and anaerobes (RR, 0.54).

Conclusion
Deep neck infection with diabetes differs from that without in several clinical aspects. Again, bacteriological differences imply that diabetic infections might be populated by different bacterial flora. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1536–1546, 2015

Clinical and bacteriological influence of diabetes mellitus on deep neck infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and purpose With the use of antibiotic therapy, the incidence of deep neck infections has decreased in recent decades. The aim of this investigation was to review the clinical course and the management of deep neck infections in our department, compare them to the experiences of the common literature and identify predisposing factors for lethal complications. Material and methods In this single-center analysis, 63 patients with deep neck infections were treated surgically. The following clinical data were analyzed and compared: age, gender, laboratory data, spatial manifestation, therapeutic modalities, comorbidities, length of hospitalization and complications. Results There was a predominance of male patients (58.7%) and a mean age of 57.9 years. The most common symptoms at diagnosis were sore throat (96.8%) and neck swelling (92.0%). Cardio/pulmonary diseases and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities. There was a significantly longer hospital stay for patients with diabetes mellitus. The most common manifestation was a parapharyngeal abscess in 24 patients (38.1%), followed by peri-/retrotonsillar infections in 19 patients (30.2%). In 29 patients, a multiple space infection was observed, with a significantly longer duration of hospitalization and a higher rate of complications. The main life-threatening complication was the development of airway obstruction in 20 patients (31.7%), who all received a tracheostomy. The duration of hospitalization for patients with complications was significantly longer. Conclusion Close attention must be paid to the management of patients with deep neck infections, especially patients with diabetes mellitus and cardio/pulmonary diseases or patients with multiple space infections.

/pdf/deep-neck-infections-a-single-center-analysis-of-63-cases-4vlw0lhus1.pdf

Deep neck infections: A single-center analysis of 63 cases.

More than 90% of all infections in the head and neck region can be traced back to an odontogenic origin. In rare cases they can lead to sepsis, which may pose a vital threat to the patient. The purpose of this study was to analyse characteristics concerning etiology and progress of severe odontogenic infections with a fulminant development. All patients with odontogenic infections requiring hospital admission were included in a retrospective analysis conducted from 02/2012 to 09/2017. Of 483 patients 16 patients (13 male, 3 female) showed severe exacerbation with septic progress. The average age was 52.8 years. All patients underwent at least one surgical procedure that involved an extraoral incision and drainage as well as high volume irrigation intraoperatively. At least one revision was required for four of the patients. Three patients showed an exceedingly severe disease progression with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and circulatory arrest. Antibiotic treatment was adjusted according to the results of an antibiogram and resistogram. Irrigation with saline was done several times a day. Sixteen patients showed odontogenic infections that spread over multiple maxillo-facial and cervical regions accompanied by septic laboratory signs. All these patients needed intensive care and a tracheostomy. The hospitalization period was 27.8 days on average. In 16 cases risk factors for the development of odontogenic abscesses like diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic alcohol and nicotine abuse, rheumatism and poor oral hygiene were present. Intraoperative swabs showed a typical polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic spectrum of oral bacteria, especially anaerobes and streptococci, mainly Streptocococcus viridans. Odontogenic infections with fulminant progression should be treated based on clinical and imaging data with immediate surgical incision and drainage including elimination of odontogenic foci as well as intensified intra- and postoperative irrigation. If needed, repeat imaging followed by further incisions should be performed. Immediate antibiotic treatment adapted to the antibiogram is of utmost importance. A combination of tazobactam and piperacillin has proven to be a good first choice and can be recommended for abscesses that spread over multiple levels with initial signs of severe infections.

/pdf/severe-odontogenic-infections-with-septic-progress-a-40a7v2su68.pdf

Severe odontogenic infections with septic progress - a constant and increasing challenge: a retrospective analysis.

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 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.

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

Is There Association Between Severe Multispace Infections of the Oral Maxillofacial Region and Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose This study aims to analyze the difference between the aged patients and non-elderly with multi-space infections of the head and neck. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted on 242 patients receiving treatment for severe multi-space infections of the head and neck region. Demographics, clinical parameters (the coexisting conditions, the etiology, the length between first symptomatic onset and admission, the number of spaces affected, and the distribution of involved spaces), laboratory values (bacteriology, admission blood glucose level, admission white blood cell count, and percent of neutrophil on admission) and treatment parameters (the number of incisions, complications and length of hospital stay) were collected and analyzed for clinical significance. Statistical analyses of the results between groups were performed using the Student t test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square. Results Compared with the non-elderly, the elderly had more system diseases ( P  = 0.0002), had longer hospital stays ( P  = 0.02), and developed more frequent complications ( P  = 0.04). Conclusion This study has determined the differences in clinical features of patients with multi-space infections of the head and neck by comparing the aged patients to non-elder patients.

Comparison of multi-space infections of the head and neck in the elderly and non-elderly: part I the descriptive data.

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

Is There Association Between Severe Multispace Infections of the Oral Maxillofacial Region and Diabetes Mellitus

Comparison of multi-space infections of the head and neck in the elderly and non-elderly: part I the descriptive data.