Adult-onset Still's disease initially thought to be an odontogenic infection: A case report.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) initially suspected to be odontogenic inflammation. BACKGROUND: Adult-onset Still's disease is a rare, complex autoinflammatory disease and a known cause of fever of unknown origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient had both a fever and dental pain. Following meticulous examination, the patient was diagnosed with AOSD. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should keep in mind that a patient such as AOSD may visit their clinics.

Management of a Severe Cervicofacial Odontogenic Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic infections originate from a tooth or from its supporting structures, generally secondary to a pulp necrosis, periodontal disease, pericoronitis, apical lesions, or complications of dental procedures, which can be restricted to the alveolus or can reach the jaws and face through maxillofacial spaces. These are the most common conditions which affect the head and neck regions. AIM: The aim of this study is to report a severe case of a cervicofacial odontogenic infection while discussing the most relevant aspects. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old female patient with a background of diabetes mellitus (DM) had a cervicofacial infection presenting edema and erythema in the left hemiface extending from the frontoparietal to cervical region and was submitted to extensive surgical treatment combined with antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence and complication rates of odontogenic infections had decreased with the advancement of diagnostic techniques, availability of effective antibiotics, and improvement in oral hygiene, still there are conditions that require attention and accurate treatment to prevent the progression of the pathology to deeper fascial spaces. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Odontogenic infections can be treated with fewer complications if approached earlier when diagnosed while their premature clinical manifestations. However, if the treatment is postponed and the infection spreads into deeper fascial spaces, it can damage vital structures, and, consequently, threaten the patient's life. In these cases, extensive and aggressive therapy should be performed.

Can progression of odontogenic infections to cervical necrotizing soft tissue infections be predicted?

The progression of odontogenic infections to necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) is unknown. The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score is used to predict risk of NSTI. This study aimed to (1) estimate the frequency at which odontogenic infections progress to NSTIs, (2) measure the value of LRINEC in predicting progression to NSTI, and (3) estimate the charges associated with managing NSTIs. This retrospective cohort study enrolled all subjects admitted for the management of odontogenic infections from 2001 to 2013. The primary predictor was the LRINEC score. The primary outcome was NSTI. The secondary outcome was billing charges. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were performed, with significance set at a P-value of <0.05. Of 479 odontogenic infections, (1.0%) progressed to NSTI. The mean LRINEC for NSTI was 5.8 and for odontogenic infection was 3.4 (P=0.043). LRINEC parameters for the prediction of NSTIs had 60% sensitivity, 68.4% specificity, 20% positive predictive value, and 92.9% negative predictive value. The mean charge for NSTI was $319,337 and for odontogenic infections was $19,291 (P=0.051). One percent of odontogenic infections progressed to NSTIs. The LRINEC score was not able to identify all NSTIs. NSTIs are 16 times more costly.

Do anti-inflammatory drugs worsen odontogenic cervico-facial cellulitis?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the influence of anti-inflammatory drugs on the severity of odontogenic cellulitis in patients admitted to our hospital emergency unit. STUDY DESIGN: The study was made from April 30 to October 31 2006. The clinical and pharmacological data was prospectively collected at admission, during hospitalization, and during systematic follow-up. We first studied the whole population and then compared the 2 groups: patients having received anti-inflammatory drugs before admission or not. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were included. The only severity criterion significantly different between the 2 groups was spreading of cervical lymphangitis (P=0.028). None of the 4 studied parameters was identified as a risk factor for spreading of cervical lymphangitis in multivariate analysis: anti-inflammatory use (OR=5.99, 95%CI [0.71-50.88]), alcohol abuse (OR=4.00, 95%CI [0.66-24.12]), dental hygiene (OR=1.53, 95%CI [0.36-6.56]), and tobacco use (OR=0.27, 95%CI [0.57-1.28]). DISCUSSION: The use of anti-inflammatory drugs during the initial phase of an odontogenic infection was not related to the severity of infection.

Influence of ultrasonic activation on photodynamic therapy over root canal system infected with Enterococcus faecalis--an in vitro study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the influence of ultrasonic activation on photodynamic therapy over root canal system infected with Enterococcus faecalis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The root canals of 50 single-rooted human extracted teeth were enlarged up to a file 60, autoclaved, inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and incubated for 30 days. The samples were divided into five groups (n=10) according to the protocol of decontamination: G1 (control group) - no procedure was performed; G2 - photosensitizer (0.01% methylene blue); G3 - ultrasonic activation of photosensitizer (0.01% methylene blue); G4 - photodynamic therapy with no ultrasonic activation; and G5 - photodynamic therapy with ultrasonic activation. Microbiological tests (CFU counting) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to evaluate and illustrate, respectively, the effectiveness of proposed treatments. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey test (α=0.05). RESULTS: The microbiological test demonstrated that G5 (photodynamic therapy with ultrasonic activation) showed the lowest mean contamination (3.17 log CFU/mL), which was statistically different from all other groups (p<0.05). G4 (photodynamic therapy) showed a mean of contamination of 3.60 log CFU/mL, which was statistically different from groups 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of ultrasonic activation on photodynamic therapy improved its potential for decontamination, resulting in the higher elimination Enterococcus faecalis from the root canal space.

Etiopathogenetic, clinical and histopathological aspects regarding the involvement of dental focal infection in premature births with fetal hypotrophy.

The study conducted on a total of 1344 preterm births, of which 403 hypotrophic fetuses births (between 2010-2012 within the Maternal Clinics of Craiova, Romania), studied the involvement of dental inflammatory infections in the chorioamnionitis onset. The possibility of transferring germs, toxins and degraded materials into the blood flow, and them entering the chorioamniotic structures is quite a common issue. Subclinically often evolving chorioamniotic membrane and its existence is clearly established after birth by histopathological and bacteriological examinations, being partially responsible for the growth delay of the conception product. Our study revealed this fact, by using clinical examinations, ultrasound exams, bacteriological determinations of the amniotic fluid and the placenta, alongside the histopathological examinations. The chorioamnionitis inflammatory process is responsible for premature birth, through a high synthesis of interleukins (IL) and prostaglandins, causing uterine contractions. Our IL-6 dosage determinations show its growth that can be considered a prediction marker for preterm birth.

Celulitis facial odontogénica / Odontogenic facial cellulitis

Fundamento: la celulitis facial odontogénica es un proceso inflamatorio agudo que se manifiesta de formas muy diferentes, con una escala variable del cuadro clínico que va desde los procesos inocuos bien delimitados, hasta los progresivos y difusos que pueden desarrollar complicaciones que lleven al paciente a un estado crítico con peligro para la vida.Objetivo: caracterizar el comportamiento de la celulitis facial odontogénica.Métodos: estudio descriptivo de serie de casos realizado en la clínica estomatológica de Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, desde septiembre de 2010 hasta marzo de 2011, sobre 56 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Se analizaron las variables: sexo, edad, dientes y regiones afectadas, causas de la celulitis, así como tratamiento indicado.Resultados: no se obsevó predilección por el sexo, los molares inferiores y la región anatómica submandibular fueron los más afectados (50 por ciento y 30, 4 por ciento respectivamente), la caries dental fue la causa principal de esta afección (51, 7 por ciento). El acceso cameral no se le realizó a la totalidad de los pacientes en la consulta de cuerpo de guardia. Por lo general la exodoncia del diente causal no se efectuó precozmente, según el grupo de antibiótico prescrito. La termoterapia con colutorios salinos y fomentos tibios fue la más indicada y el grupo de antibióticos más utilizado fue el de las penincilinas.Conclusiones: la caries dental fue la principal causa de celulitis odontogénica. Aún existen dificultades con la realización del acceso cameral(AU)

Background: odontogenic facial cellulitis is an acute inflammatory process manifested in very different ways, with a variable scale in clinical presentation ranging from harmless well defined processes, to diffuse and progressive that may develop complications leading the patient to a critical condition, even risking their lives.Objective: To characterize the behavior of odontogenic facial cellulitis.Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted at the dental clinic of Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, from September 2010 to March 2011. It included 56 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Variables analyzed included: sex, age, teeth and regions affected, causes of cellulite and prescribed treatment.Results: no sex predilection was observed, lower molars and submandibular anatomical region were the most affected (50 percent and 30, 4 percent respectively) being tooth decay the main cause for this condition (51, 7 percent). The opening access was not performed to all the patients in the emergency service. The causal tooth extraction was not commonly done early, according to the prescribed antibiotic group. Thermotherapy with warm fomentation and saline mouthwash was the most prescribed and the most widely used group of antibiotics was the penicillin.Conclusions: dental caries were the major cause of odontogenic cellulite. There are still difficulties with the implementation of opening access(AU)

Consideraciones sobre el uso de antibióticos en endodoncia / Considerations on the use of antibiotics in endodontics

Los antibióticos son substancias producidas por un microorganismo (generalmente bacteria u hongo) o una similar desarrollada total o parcialmente por síntesis química, que, en bajas concentraciones, inhiben el metabolismo o destruyen microorganismos. En la mayoría de los casos las defensas del organismo actúan controlando las agresiones bacterianas, siendo el papel de los antibióticos sólo de terapia coadyuvante. Como el uso indiscriminado de los antibióticos ha incrementado la resistencia bacteriana en todas partes del mundo, hay que limitar el uso de estos medicamentos solo para situaciones clínicas que lo ameriten. Este artículo presenta una revisión de los antibióticos más frecuentemente indicados en Odontología y sugiere los medicamentos de primera elección para su empleo en la práctica endodóntica, así como las situaciones clínicas donde se indica su uso.

Antibiotics are substances produced by microorganisms (usually bacteria or fungi) or a similar substance totally or partially synthesized in laboratory, and they must be able to inhibit the growth or kill microorganisms in low concentrations. In most cases, antibiotics are useful to help the host defenses to control bacterial infections. However, due to their abusive employment, antibiotics have generated an alarming increase in bacterial resistance throughout the world. Thus, the prescription of these drugs should be restricted to conditions where they are actually needed. This paper reviews the antibiotic drugs more commonly used in Dentistry and suggests the drugs of first choice as well as the indications for employment in endodontic practice.

[Septic metastases of suppuration of odontogenic origin]. / Metastazele septice ale supuratiilor de origine odontogena.

The infections of odontogenic origin, set in the soft tissues region of the viscerocranium are among the most frequent conditions specific to this anatomical level. A distinct category among these, represented by the conditions with diffuse character, may have serious forms, developing systemic septic metastases. The current paper displays a study approaching seven cases of odontogenic diffuse infections with metastases at distance. The ways in which the septic metastases appeared, as well as the topic and general prescribed treatment have been analyzed. The expanding at distance of the suppuration occurred at those patients who were suffering from cervical necroziting fasciitis associated to some immunodepressing conditions. Out of the 7 patients involved in the study, 4 were suffering from uncompensated diabetes and obesity. All those 7 patients had septic conditions localized in mediastinal region, and in 3 cases hepatic septic affections were observed. The best treatment possible for these conditions proved to be the surgical one associated with that concerned with the sustenance of the general state of health, the rebalancing of the homeostatic constants and the antibacterial one. The post-surgical evolution in case of 5 patients was a good one, in case of 2 patients being unfavourable because of the appearance of the multiorganic insufficiency and of death.

Celulitis facial odontógena: estudio de 96 casos en la provincia de Sancti Spíritus: 2009 - 2010 / Odontogenic facial cellulitis: study of 96 cases in the province of Sancti Spiritus: 2009 to 2010

Fundamento: La celulitis facial odontógena es el proceso séptico más frecuente que puede presentarse en la práctica estomatológica, donde el paciente puede llegar incluso a la muerte. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento de la celulitis facial odontógena en los pacientes mayores de 15 años que acudieron al servicio de urgencias del departamento provincial de Cirugía Maxilofacial. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal en el Hospital General Universitario Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti-Spíritus. La población estuvo constituida por todos los pacientes con celulitis facial que acudieron al servicio de urgencia de Cirugía Maxilofacial en el período de enero del 2009 a diciembre del 2010, siendo la muestra de 96 pacientes. Resultados: El sexo femenino fue el que más frecuentemente estuvo afectado en el grupo de edades comprendido entre los 21 y 29 años de edad, los pacientes afectados por esta entidad acudieron a recibir tratamiento entre el primer y el tercer días, afectados por el proceso en su forma difusa fundamentalmente. Conclusiones: En el período estudiado, la celulitis facial odontógena se comportó en el Hospital General Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti Spíritus de forma similar a otros estudios nacionales, aunque el tiempo para que los pacientes acudan al servicio de cirugía maxilofacial a recibir tratamiento, es más prolongado(AU)

Background: Odontogenic facial cellulitis is the most common septic process that can occur in dental practice, and may even cause the patients death. Objective: Describing the behavior of odontogenic facial cellulitis in patients over 15 years of age attending the emergency service of the provincial department of maxillofacial surgery. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Camilo Cienfuegos General University Hospital of Sancti Spiritus. The population consisted of all patients with facial cellulitis who attended the emergency department of maxillofacial surgery in the period from January of 2009 to December of 2010, with the sample of 96 patients. Results: Female sex was the most commonly affected in the age group between 21 and 29 years of age. Patients with this entity came to be treated between the first and third days, affected by the process mainly in its diffuse form. Conclusions: In the period studied, odontogenic facial cellulitis behaved in Camilo Cienfuegos General Hospital of Sancti Spiritus similar to other national studies, although the time elapsing before the first follow-up maxillofacial appointment is longer(AU)

Spread of odontogenic infections in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Odontogenic infections constitute a substantial portion of diseases encountered by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Infections start from dental tissues and sometimes rapidly spread to contiguous spaces. The consequence is a fulminant disease with significant morbidity and mortality. The study was aimed at studying the pattern of spread, approach to management, and outcome of these infections at a Nigerian teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients with orofacial infections who presented to our center over an 18-month period was carried out. The medical records were reviewed to retrieve the following: age, gender, source of infection, anatomic fascial spaces involved, associated medical conditions, various treatment modalities, types of antibiotics administered, causative micro-organisms, length of stay in the hospital, and any complications encountered. Infections were classified into 2 categories: those that are confined to the dentoalveolar tissues belong to category I, and those that have spread into the local/regional soft tissue spaces and beyond belong to category II. RESULTS: Odontogenic infections constituted 11.3% of the total oral and maxillofacial surgery cases. A total of 261 patients were treated for odontogenic infections. There were 146 female patients (59.8%) and 98 male patients (40.2%) in the first category, whereas the second category comprised 10 male patients (58.8%) and 7 female patients (41.2%). The fascial spaces involved, in descending order, were submasseteric in 10 (22.7%), submandibular in 9 (20.5%), and sublingual in 6 (13.6%). The causative micro-organisms commonly found were Klebsiella and Streptococcus spp. Incision and drainage were performed in the 17 cases with spreading infection. Amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, and metronidazole were the most routinely administered antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that delay in presentation, self-medication, aging, male gender, and unusual causative agents are some of the factors associated with spread. Therefore efforts must be made to further improve public dental awareness.

Changing clinical features of odontogenic maxillofacial infections.

Odontogenic maxillofacial infections occasionally require hospital care. Our aim was to study whether the number and the clinical features of patients hospitalized due to odontogenic abscesses in a large hospital district in Finland had changed in one decade. A retrospective analysis of two 12-month study cohorts one decade apart from the same population base was conducted. The first cohort comprised 71 patients and the second cohort comprised 101 patients. The incidence of odontogenic infections requiring hospital care increased from 5.3 to 7.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. The need for intensive care increased significantly from 15% to 32%, and the maximal C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the latter cohort, 127 mg/L, compared to the first cohort, 104 mg/L. The proportion of previously healthy patients decreased significantly from 83% to 65%. Odontogenic maxillofacial infections have become more prevalent and more severe during the decade in our hospital district. An increasing proportion of patients had underlying diseases.

Orbital and intracranial complications after acute rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nowadays, intracranial abscess is a rare complication of acute rhinosinusitis. The consequent orbital and intracranial complications of acute rhinosinusitis are rare but must be mutually excluded in complicated rhinosinusitis even when proper surgical and medical treatment tend to efficiently heal the orbital complication. METHODS: We report a case of a patient who primarily revealed symptoms of orbitocellulitis as a complication of odontogenous rhinosinusitis. Proper diagnostic and therapeutical measures were undertaken to manage the disease immediately after stationary admission. RESULTS: Two weeks after an inconspicuous healing period, hemiparesis due to formation of an intracranial abscess developed. An emergent situation reveals which was unusual to the clinical situation. CONCLUSION: The possible role of underlying mechanisms of intracranial abscess formation is discussed and review of literature concerning orbital and intracranial rhinosinusitis complications is performed. The correct indication of imaging methods and accurate evaluation of diminutive symptoms are essential. We assume that performance of a complementary CT of the brain or MRI even when previous CT scan of the orbit/paranasal sinuses reveals no cerebral pathology should be done to avoid or minimize future patients with consecutive orbital and intracranial complications of acute rhinosinusitis.

Exploration of ultrasonography in assessment of fascial space spread of odontogenic infections.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the capability of ultrasonography (USG) as an alternative imaging modality to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of fascial space spread of odontogenic infections. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-two fascial spaces in 16 subjects, clinically diagnosed as odontogenic infections, were included in this prospective study. The fascial space involvements were examined with USG. The results were confirmed by MRI and microbiologic tests. RESULTS: Ultrasonography demonstrated 32 (76%) of 42 involved fascial spaces. There was 100% agreement between USG and MRI on 32 superficial space involvements, including 13 buccal, 10 submandibular, 5 canine, 2 submasseteric, 1 submental, and 1 infraorbital. Ultrasonography did not detect 4 masticator spacs, 4 parapharyngeal spacs, and 2 sublingual space involvements. Ultrasonography was able to stage infections starting from edematous change to cellulitis to complete abscess formation. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography could be considered to be an effective method in detecting and staging spread of odontogenic infections to the superficial fascial spaces. However, it might be difficult to detect deep fascial space involvements.

Deep neck infections: clinical considerations in aggressive disease.

Deep neck infections are common and occur as a consequence of several etiologies. Antibiotic therapy, interventional radiology, and patient support modalities have become increasingly sophisticated, although surgery continues to be the mainstay of treatment for most patients. Today, neck infections are rarely life threatening when sound and timely management is applied.

[Clinical parameters in evaluating hospitalized patients with orofacial odontogenic infection--a preliminary retrospective study].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to characterize local and systemic clinical parameters of odontogenic infections in adults, and to isolate parameters that can predict hospital length of stay (LOS). METHODS: File charts of 142 patients, hospitalized between 1994 and 2004 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Sheba Medical Center, were reviewed. Pre-hospitalization data (age, gender, clinical characteristics of the infection, antibiotic intake), and data during hospitalization (blood count, body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, thrombocytes count, anatomic space involved, cause of infection, type of infection abscess or cellulitis, surgical treatment applied and length of stay) were collected and statistically analyzed to isolate which mostly correlated to LOS--long (4 or more days) or short (less than 4 days). Stepwise logistic regression model was carried out to obtain a predictive model for short or long LOS using the statistically significant parameters. RESULTS: Systemic clinical findings, such as body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and WBC count, had normal to slightly elevated values. High blood count PMN, surgical intervention, infraorbital space involvement, and infection in the mandible were significant to LOS. The most important parameter, masking all other significant parameters, was the location of infection. When the maxilla was compared to the mandible, the odds for a long LOS were 3.2 times greater in the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Orofacial odontogenic infections may be regarded as local infection rather than systemic disease. Hospital LOS is influenced directly by infection location, i.e., lower face (mandible) infection requires a longer LOS.

Odontogenic infection pathway to the submandibular space: imaging assessment.

The aims of this study were to determine the pathways of odontogenic infection spread into the submandibular space and their relationship to the clinical symptoms. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images of 33 patients with submandibular involvement were analyzed. The spread of infection was evaluated by lateral asymmetry of the shape and density of the fascial spaces and tissues, and by obliteration of the interfascial fat spaces. Imaging findings were classified into three types: in 19 patients (57.6%), infection spread through the mylohyoid muscle or sublingual space (type I). In five patients (15.2%), infection spread through the bony structures of the mandible with periosteal reaction or perforation of the cortical plate (type II) and was associated with relatively mild symptoms. In four patients (12.1%), infection spread from the masticatory space (type III). Seven of 11 patients with dysphagia or fever showed submandibular involvement spreading into the parapharyngeal space. CT and MR imaging clearly demonstrated different pathways of the spread of odontogenic infection into the submandibular space, which influenced the manifestation of clinical symptoms.

Odontogenic subperiosteal abscess of orbit: a case report.

Subperiosteal abscess of orbit is an uncommon but serious complication of orbital infection. We report a case of a 78 year old gentleman who presented with bilateral periorbital oedema and proptosis. Computerised tomography of orbit revealed bilateral dilated superior ophthalmic veins. Bilateral carotid-cavernous fistula was initially suspected. Serial imaging showed an increasing bilateral subperiosteal lesion of the orbit. Fine needle aspiration confirmed subperiosteal abscess. A high level of awareness is necessary in diagnosing subperiosteal abscess.