Emergency department referrals for CT imaging of extremity soft tissue infection: before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BJR open Pub Date : 2024-08-22 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI:10.1093/bjro/tzae016
Andrew Nanapragasam, Lawrence M White
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and spectrum of findings in patients referred for CT imaging of extremity soft tissue infection in the adult emergency department (ED) setting before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Two hundred thirteen CT exams in the pre-COVID cohort (February 1, 2018-January 31, 2020) and 383 CT exams in the COVID cohort (February 1, 2020-January 31, 2022) were evaluated in this multicentre, retrospective study. Demographic information and clinical histories were collected, along with regional data on COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Results: Comparable age and sex distribution was found in the pre-COVID (average age of 53.5 years; male: female ratio of 71:29) and COVID (average age of 54.6 years; male: female ratio of 69:31) cohorts. The frequency of reported clinical risk factors (diabetes mellitus, injected drug use, prior surgery, animal bite) was not significantly different between the two cohorts. Findings of simultaneous involvement of both superficial and deep soft tissue infection on CT imaging were significantly higher in the COVID cohort (53.4%) than in the pre-COVID cohort (33.7%). CT findings of phlegmon (49.1% vs 22.1%), ulcers (48.8% vs 30%), osteomyelitis (21.7% vs 13.1%), as well as localized (18.8% vs 11.7%) and extensive (3.7% vs 2.3%) soft tissue gas were significantly more common in the COVID cohort than in the pre-COVID cohort.

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of ED CT exams for the evaluation of extremity soft tissue infection increased, with this imaging also showing more advanced disease. Pandemic-related modifications to human behaviour and re-distribution of healthcare resources may underlie these observed changes.

Advances in knowledge: This multi-centre study shows an increase in extremity soft tissue infection presenting to the ED during the pandemic. This finding is important for future pandemic preparations, as it can aid in the decision-making process around resource allocation.

四肢软组织感染 CT 成像的急诊科转诊情况:COVID-19 大流行之前和期间。
目的评估COVID-19大流行之前和期间成人急诊科(ED)转诊的四肢软组织感染CT成像患者的发病率和检查结果范围:这项多中心回顾性研究评估了 COVID 前队列(2018 年 2 月 1 日至 2020 年 1 月 31 日)中的 213 例 CT 检查和 COVID 队列(2020 年 2 月 1 日至 2022 年 1 月 31 日)中的 383 例 CT 检查。研究收集了人口统计学信息和临床病史,以及COVID-19住院和死亡的地区数据:COVID前(平均年龄为53.5岁,男女比例为71:29)和COVID后(平均年龄为54.6岁,男女比例为69:31)队列的年龄和性别分布相当。两个队列中报告的临床风险因素(糖尿病、注射毒品、手术前、动物咬伤)的频率没有明显差异。COVID队列中表层和深层软组织感染同时累及的CT成像结果(53.4%)明显高于COVID前队列(33.7%)。COVID队列中出现痰(49.1% vs 22.1%)、溃疡(48.8% vs 30%)、骨髓炎(21.7% vs 13.1%)以及局部(18.8% vs 11.7%)和广泛(3.7% vs 2.3%)软组织气体的CT结果明显多于COVID前队列:结论:在COVID-19大流行期间,用于评估四肢软组织感染的急诊室CT检查数量有所增加,这种成像也显示出更晚期的疾病。与大流行相关的人类行为改变和医疗资源的重新分配可能是这些观察到的变化的原因:这项多中心研究表明,在大流行期间,急诊室收治的四肢软组织感染病例有所增加。这一发现对未来的大流行准备工作非常重要,因为它有助于资源分配的决策过程。
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