Background: Recurrence is a common complication of erysipelas (cellulitis).
Objectives: Todescribe the characteristics of patients with recurrent erysipelas and thereby, identify potential risk factors and evaluate prophylaxis efficacy.
Methods: Data were retrospectively recorded from the files of 47 patients admitted to hospital between 1995 and 2003 for erysipelas recurrence. Studied variables included: general condition, regional and local factors, e.g. broken cutaneous barrier. Patient characteristics were used to construct tree-based models according to the classification and regression tree methodology.
Results: Our patients suffered a mean of 4.1 recurrences. Cutaneous barrier disruption was observed in 81%, mainly intertrigo (60%). Antibiotic prophylaxis was taken by 68% of the patients for 30.6 months. After 1 and 2 years, 84 and 72% of the patients, respectively, were recurrence-free.
Conclusion: Our results showed that erysipelas recurrence has the same risk factors as single episodes and underlines the potential benefit of oral or parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrences.