Are deep odontogenic infections associated with an increased risk for sepsis?

Background Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is recommended to identify sepsis. Odontogenic infection (OI) can progress to sepsis, causing systematic inflammatory complications or organ failure. Purpose The purpose of the study was to measure the association/s between OI location and risk for sepsis at admission. Study Design, Setting, and Sample This retrospective cohort study included subjects treated for OI at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX, from 9/1/2019 to 7/30/2022. Subjects>18 years old who were treated under general anesthesia were included. OI limited to periapical, vestibular, buccal, and/or canine spaces were excluded from the sample. Predictor Variable The primary predictor variable was OI anatomic location (superficial or deep). Superficial OI infection includes submental, submandibular, sublingual, submasseteric, and/or superficial temporal spaces. Deep OI includes pterygomandibular, deep temporal, lateral pharyngeal, retropharyngeal, pretracheal, and/or prevertebral. Main Outcome Variables The primary outcome variable was risk for sepsis measured using a qSOFA score (0-3). A higher score (>0) indicates the patient has a high risk for sepsis. Covariates Covariates were demographics, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, antibiotic route, post-operative endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy, intensive care unit, admission, and length of stay. Analyses Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. A chi-square test was used for categorical variables. Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Statistical significance was P<0.05. Results The sample was composed of 168 subjects with a mean age of 42.8 ± 21.5, and 69 (48.6%) subjects were male. There were 11(6.5%) subjects with a qSOFA score >0. The relative risk of a qSOFA > 0 for a deep OI is 5.4 times greater than for a superficial OI (136 (95.8) versus 21(80.8%): RR (95% CI): 5.4 (1.51 to 19.27), P = 0.004). After adjusting for age, sex, ASA score, and involved anatomical spaces, there was a significant correlation between laterality and the number of involved anatomical spaces and qSOFA score (OR = 9.13, 95% CI: 2.48 – 33.55, adjusted P = <0.001). Conclusion and Relevance The study findings suggest that the OI location is associated with the qSOFA score >0.