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Table 3 Clinical characteristics of each unique SSTI case (n = 137)

From: Antibiotic use among twelve Canadian First Nations communities: a retrospective chart review of skin and soft tissue infections

Variables

n

%

Etiologic agent

 MRSAa

55

(40.15)

 MSSA

5

(3.65)

 Other organism

8

(5.84)

 Unknown organism

69

(50.36)

Primary SSTI symptom

 Purulentb

34

(24.82)

 Non-purulentc

15

(10.95)

 Skin breakdownd

17

(12.41)

 Woundse

34

(24.82)

 Unknown

37

(27.01)

Wound care

 Yes

67

(48.91)

 No

70

(51.09)

Incision & drainage

 Yes

12

(8.76)

  Purulent

8

(5.84)

  Non-purulent

1

(0.73)

  Skin breakdown

0

(0.00)

  Wounds

0

(0.00)

  Unknown

3

(2.19)

 No

125

(91.24)

Type of antibiotic

 Topical only

24

(17.52)

 Topical and oral

12

(8.76)

 Oral only

86

(62.77)

 IV

12

(8.76)

 Missing

2

(1.46)

Combination therapy

 Yes

41

(29.93)

 No

96

(70.07)

Adjunctive therapy

 Yes

68

(49.64)

 No

69

(50.36)

Clinical Outcomes

 Cure

16

(11.68)

 Failure

19

(13.87)

 Improvement

17

(12.41)

 Unknown

84

(61.31)

  1. a27 MRSA cases confirmed by wound culture, 28 MRSA presumed by colonization, as indicated by a history of MRSA infection in the patient chart
  2. bPurulent SSTI included: 10 abscesses, 1 cyst (with drain), 1 folliculitis, 11 boils, 1 impetigo (probable) and 10 other infections with purulent discharge
  3. cNon-purulent SSTI included: 10 cellulitis, 1 mastitis and 4 other infections with swelling/redness but no discharge
  4. dSkin breakdowns included: 8 lacerations, 2 scabs, 2 abrasions, 2 warts, 2 rashes, 1 infected skin graft
  5. eWounds included: 27 wound infections with no discharge and 7 bite wounds
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BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

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