EVALUATION OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH CELLULITIS IN A SURGICAL UNIT surge-rajasegaram@live.com

 

EVALUATION OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH CELLULITIS IN A SURGICAL UNIT

2

Sri Lanka

Poster Exhibition only

Cellulitis is a common and potentially serious bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, often leading to notable morbidity, particularly among hospitalised patients.

This study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients admitted with cellulitis to surgical wards, identify risk factors for poor prognosis, and assess the impact of comorbidities and treatment approaches. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 120 cellulitis patients admitted over six months. Data on demographics, comorbidities, cellulitis severity (CREST criteria), complications, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analysed using SPSS version 25. Ethical approval: AJ/ETH/COM/2025/Feb.

Of the patients, 54% were male, with a mean age of 58.8 years. Most had grade II cellulitis (43.3%). Complete resolution occurred in 55%, partial improvement in 16.7%, while 28.3% developed complications, including abscesses (11.7%), necrotising fasciitis (8.3%), sepsis (7.5%), and one death (0.8%). Higher cellulitis grade, elevated WBC, and serum creatinine levels at admission were significantly associated with poor outcomes (p < 0.05). Diabetes mellitus (present in 54.2%) was linked to longer hospital stays and more complications (6.9 ± 3.7 vs. 5.4 ± 4.1 days; p < 0.05). Patients undergoing surgical intervention had longer stays compared to those treated conservatively (8.8 ± 3.8 vs. 3.6 ± 1.73 days). The 30-day readmission rate was 12%.

Cellulitis remains a major cause of surgical admissions, with outcomes influenced by severity and comorbidities, particularly diabetes. Early diagnosis and tailored management can improve prognosis, highlighting the need for standardized national treatment protocols and enhanced clinician training in Sri Lanka.