TY - JOUR
T1 - Skin surface temperature: A possible new outcome measure for skin and soft tissue infection
AU - Montalto, Michael
AU - Davies, Fletcher
AU - Marijanovic, Natalie
AU - Meads, Andrew
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background: This study describes the novel use of skin surface temperature to measure the severity and the response to treatment of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI)Methods: Patients admitted with SSTI for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Skin temperature was measured daily at the point of maximum heat on the SSTI affected limb and the non-affected limb using a non-contact laser thermometer.Findings: Sixty-three patients were included. Mean length of stay was 4.95 days. The difference between affected and unaffected limb was 3.5° C (95% CI 3.0-3.9) at day one and 2.1° C (95% CI 1.7-2.6) on the last day, a difference of 1.4° C (95% CI 0.7-1.9). Between day one and the last day, there was a significant reduction in affected limb temperature (mean reduction of 2.4° C, 95% CI 1.9-3.0 p<0.001). Skin surface temperature may hold a useful role in the management of SSTI.
AB - Background: This study describes the novel use of skin surface temperature to measure the severity and the response to treatment of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI)Methods: Patients admitted with SSTI for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Skin temperature was measured daily at the point of maximum heat on the SSTI affected limb and the non-affected limb using a non-contact laser thermometer.Findings: Sixty-three patients were included. Mean length of stay was 4.95 days. The difference between affected and unaffected limb was 3.5° C (95% CI 3.0-3.9) at day one and 2.1° C (95% CI 1.7-2.6) on the last day, a difference of 1.4° C (95% CI 0.7-1.9). Between day one and the last day, there was a significant reduction in affected limb temperature (mean reduction of 2.4° C, 95% CI 1.9-3.0 p<0.001). Skin surface temperature may hold a useful role in the management of SSTI.
KW - cellulitis
KW - Home care services
KW - Hospital-based
KW - Soft tissue infections
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=24024227
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884141693&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 42
SP - 653
EP - 657
JO - Australian Family Physician
JF - Australian Family Physician
SN - 0300-8495
IS - 8
ER -