Skin surface temperature: A possible new outcome measure for skin and soft tissue infection

Michael Montalto; Fletcher Davies; Natalie Marijanovic; Andrew Meads

Skin surface temperature: A possible new outcome measure for skin and soft tissue infection

Michael Montalto, Fletcher Davies, Natalie Marijanovic, Andrew Meads

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6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	653-657
Number of pages	5
Journal	Australian Family Physician
Volume	42
Issue number	8
Publication status	Published - 2013

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Montalto, M., Davies, F., Marijanovic, N., & Meads, A. (2013). Skin surface temperature: A possible new outcome measure for skin and soft tissue infection. Australian Family Physician, 42(8), 653-657.

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title = "Skin surface temperature: A possible new outcome measure for skin and soft tissue infection",

abstract = "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.",

author = "Michael Montalto and Fletcher Davies and Natalie Marijanovic and Andrew Meads",

year = "2013",

language = "English",

volume = "42",

pages = "653--657",

journal = "Australian Family Physician",

issn = "0300-8495",

publisher = "Australian College of General Practitioners",

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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.

UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=24024227

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VL - 42

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JO - Australian Family Physician

JF - Australian Family Physician

SN - 0300-8495

IS - 8

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