Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of skin and soft tissue infections in children: a prospective study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Backgroundː This study addresses the elevated prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) within the pediatric demographic, necessitating a comprehensive inquiry into their varied clinical manifestations. The primary objectives involve the assessment of clinical and laboratory characteristics of SSTIs in children and an exploration of their correlation with treatment efficacy. Methodsː From April 2022 to June 2023, a prospective observational study was conducted on 87 pediatric bacterial SSTI cases at a Tertiary Paediatric Centre in Central Vietnam. Resultsː SSTIs were most common in children ages 1-4, 48.3%. Seasonal trends showed a peak incidence in summer (43.7%). In 93.1% of patients, febrile presentation and edema predominated. About 40.2% of people had lower extremity involvement. Analysis showed significant rates of severe (73.6%) and purulent (67.8%) SSTIs. Leukocytosis was found in 39.1% of patients, mostly due to 72.4% increased CRP. Even though only 2.4% of blood cultures were positive, Staphylococcus aureus caused 76.9% of infections. About 42.5% of patients had shorter treatments. Significantly, purulent SSTIs required longer antibiotic therapy than nonpurulent infections (p < 0.05). 27.6% of children needed surgery, and most received intravenous antibiotics. Most importantly, all patients recovered. Conclusionsː Predominantly observed among pediatric cases were purulent SSTIs, exhibiting a proclivity for the lower limbs, with Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant etiological agent. Treatment duration for purulent SSTIs exceeded that for nonpurulent infections. Intravenous antibiotic administration emerged as the predominant therapeutic modality, yielding favorable outcomes.