TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for recurrent lower extremity cellulitis in a U.S. Veterans Medical Center population
AU - Lewis, Susanne Doblecki
AU - Peter, Garnet S.
AU - Gómez-Marín, Orlando
AU - Bisno, Alan L.
PY - 2006/12/1
Y1 - 2006/12/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite the frequency of recurrent acute cellulitis of the lower extremities, factors associated with this infection have not been previously assessed in a case-control study among patients admitted to U.S. hospitals. METHODS: We compared the clinical characteristics of 47 patients with those of 94 age- and sex-matched control subjects admitted to the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, two physical factors, lower extremity edema and body mass index, one behavioral factor, smoking, and one demographic factor, homelessness, were significantly and independently associated with recurrent cellulitis. The latter two factors have not previously been reported to be independently associated with cellulitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that increased emphasis on weight loss, smoking cessation, and improved foot hygiene in the homeless might decrease recurrences of lower extremity cellulitis.
AB - BACKGROUND: Despite the frequency of recurrent acute cellulitis of the lower extremities, factors associated with this infection have not been previously assessed in a case-control study among patients admitted to U.S. hospitals. METHODS: We compared the clinical characteristics of 47 patients with those of 94 age- and sex-matched control subjects admitted to the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, two physical factors, lower extremity edema and body mass index, one behavioral factor, smoking, and one demographic factor, homelessness, were significantly and independently associated with recurrent cellulitis. The latter two factors have not previously been reported to be independently associated with cellulitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that increased emphasis on weight loss, smoking cessation, and improved foot hygiene in the homeless might decrease recurrences of lower extremity cellulitis.
KW - Case-control studies
KW - Cellulitis
KW - Risk-factors
KW - Streptococcus
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U2 - 10.1097/00000441-200612000-00002
DO - 10.1097/00000441-200612000-00002
M3 - Article
C2 - 17170620
AN - SCOPUS:33845730347
VL - 332
SP - 304
EP - 307
JO - American Journal of the Medical Sciences
JF - American Journal of the Medical Sciences
SN - 0002-9629
IS - 6
ER -