Which Skin Infection Patients Need Hospitalization?

Based on the premise that too many patients with skin infection are hospitalized, investigators reviewed records at three California hospitals to determine whether any clinical predictors could identify patients with cellulitis or abscess who needed “high-level care.” The latter was defined as death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or operating room procedure.

Of nearly 3000 admitted patients, 84 required “high-level care.” All 84 patients had at least one of the following six characteristics: abnormal cross-sectional imaging result, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, diabetes, previous infection at the same location, age >65 years, or infection involving the hand.