Characteristics of Microbiology of Deep Neck Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review the characteristics of microbiology of deep neck abscess and to recommend adequate empirical antibiotics. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Medical records of the 71 patients who underwent surgical drainage for deep neck abscess were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed correlations between age, gender, etiology and diabetes mellitus and the cultured organism with respect to susceptibility of antibiotics. RESULTS: The leading pathogens were Streptococcus viridians group (18.3%), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia, 15.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, 15.5%) and alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (12.7%). The most common source of infection had a dental origin. Streptococcus viridians group was associated with infections of dental origin and K. pneumonia infection was over-represented in the diabetic group compared to the non-diabetic group. Antibiotics susceptibility test showed that four leading pathogens were susceptible to ampicillin/sulbactam. The rate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus accounting for S. aureus infections was only 18.2%. CONCLUSION: Only ampicillin/sulbactam without other antibiotics was sufficient to treat deep neck abscess empirically. Thus we suggest that other antibiotics that target anaerobes or 3rd generation cephalosporin are not necessary for the empirical treatments of deep neck abscess.