Microbiological Approach in Management of Recurrent Dento - Buccal Space Infection - Report of Three Uncommon Cases

Abstract

The route of facial infection usually depends on the jaw-tooth relationship factors followed by virulence and type of microorganisms. Staphylococci are frequently associated with abscess formation. However, at times head and neck infection with an odontogenic origin are caused by gram-negative species like Klebsiella pneumonia without any predisposing opportunistic infectious etiology. In this report, we presented 3 rare cases of buccal space infection associated with Klebsiella pneumonia without any predisposing systemic disease. Appropriate diagnosis followed by antibiotics oral cephazolin (500mg BID) and intra-muscular gentamicin (150mg BID) at adequate strength and duration has brought a significant decrease in the progression of the disease that yielded complete recovery after 10days. Thus with odontogenic infections it is appropriate to always begin with the empiric antibiotic regimen with correlation to clinical presentation thinking of the most likely suspected microorganisms, which are usually the normal flora of the region, without forgetting the importance of early surgical intervention to reduce morbidity and complications.