Bacterial infections of the oropharynx and deep neck spaces: an investigation of changes in presentation patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANZ J Surg
; 91(12): 2726-2730, 2021 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1370861
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic altered clinical presentation characteristics among adults with bacterial throat infections.METHODS:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included adult patients presenting with bacterial oropharyngeal infections to a tertiary level hospital in Melbourne, Australia. All patients presenting during the first phase of COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne (1st April- 1st July in 2020), and those from the same period 12-months prior, were included.RESULTS:
There were fewer presentations of bacterial throat infections during the pandemic period compared to the same time 1 year prior. There was a significantly reduced proportion of patients on oral antibiotics prior to their presentation in 2020, as compared to the same period 12-months earlier (30% vs. 50%, respectively; P < 0.01), as well as a significant increase in the length of time patients were symptomatic before presenting to hospital (5 days vs. 4 days, respectively; P < 0.01). Despite this, there was no significant increase in the number of representations post discharge from hospital, or the length of hospital admission.CONCLUSION:
The overall number of patients presenting with tonsillitis, pharyngitis, peritonsillar abscess and deep neck space infection were reduced during the pandemic period. Patients experienced symptoms for a longer period of time and fewer were on antimicrobial therapy prior to presentation. This study highlights a shift towards delayed patient presentation and reduced oral antibiotic commencement in cases of oropharyngeal infections as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bacterial Infections
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
ANZ J Surg
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ans.17178
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