The design, characteristics and predictors of mortality in the North of England Cellulitis Treatment Assessment (NECTA).

The design, characteristics and predictors of mortality in the North of England Cellulitis Treatment Assessment (NECTA).

Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Aug 31
Tan R, Newberry DJ, Arts GJ, Onwuamaegbu ME.

Meto E. Onwuamaegbu,Experimental Medicine,Hammersmith Hospital,Du Cane Road, London W12 0TE, UKTel.: + 44 208 383 1000Email: drmeto@doctors.net.uk

Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Aims: Cellulitis is a common cause of acute medical admissions in UK hospitals. The factors that determine susceptibility to an acute admission or to mortality following hospital admission are poorly defined.

Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 568 patients with a diagnosis of cellulitis between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003 in the north-east of England to see whether we could determine these factors. We collected data on the factors that were associated with acute hospital admissions and survival. We used a primary end-point of deaths within 1 year of admission for cellulitis.

Results: The characteristics that identified patients at high risk of mortality were present in 39.9% of the cohort studied.

The four most common of these characteristics were lower limb oedema 30.1% (95% CI: -26.0 to 34.1), ulceration 24% (95% CI: -20.2 to 27.8), previous myocardial infarction (MI) 19.9% (95% CI: -16.3 to 23.4) and blunt injury 18.7% (95% CI: -15.3 to 22.2). Significant predictors of mortality were: patient's age (p < p =" 0.003)," p =" 0.01)">

Treatment with i.v. flucloxacillin was found to be a significant predictor of survival (odds ratio = 3.43, z =3.42. p <>

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