Biological factors predicting the length of hospital stay in odontogenic cellulitis

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether common biological factors are correlated with a longer hospital stay.

Study design: All patients having odontogenic cellulitis, treated from January 2019 to December 2019 at Lille University Hospital, and requiring surgical drainage under general anesthesia, were included, retrospectively. Data, such as length of hospital stay and biological factors, namely, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score, and bacterial samples were collected.

Results: Significant moderate-strong correlations were found between postoperative length of stay and patients' LRINEC score (r_s = 0.556) and presurgical CRP level (r_s = 0.579). There was a significant moderate correlation between postoperative length of stay and presurgical procalcitonin level (r_s = 0.451), and a weak correlation between postoperative length of stay and presurgical white blood cell count (r_s = 0.282). Linear regression verified CRP as an independent predictor of length of hospital stay, showing a significant linear relationship between them (p < 0.0001). A significant regression equation was found (F(1,65) = 27.089; p = 0.0001), with an R² of 0.294.

Conclusion: In this study, CRP was the key biological predictor of length of hospital stay.

Statement of clinical relevance: The ability to predict length of hospital stay and identify patients requiring intensive care management, using simple and inexpensive biological parameters (such as CRP), will enable more cost-effective care and efficient hospital bed management.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; Hospitalization duration; Length of hospital stay; Odontogenic cellulitis; Odontogenic infection; White blood cell count.