Pediatric nasal orbital cellulitis in Shenzhen (South China): Etiology, management, and outcomes

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of orbital cellulitis in children in Shenzhen, China, and to improve the experience of antibiotic therapy for the treatment of orbital cellulites.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data from 20 children admitted to Shenzhen Children's Hospital between January 2009 and December 2013, with a diagnosis of nasal orbital cellulitis, severe enough to warrant hospitalization. Thirteen subjects (65%) were male and 7 (35%) were female. The median age was 3.5 years (2 months-7.2 years). The relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, and length of hospitalization were analyzed. The patients were categorized into 2 groups according to treatment: Those treated with a combination of cefoperazone plus sulbactam sodium vs. those treated with other antibiotic treatment regimens.

Results: Levels of serum CRP (29.8 ± 22.0 mg/L) at the time of admission were positively correlated with length of hospitalization (6.3 ± 4.1 days, r = 0.46, P < 0.05). The length of time necessary for CRP levels to return to normal range after admission (3.4 ± 1.8 days) was also significantly correlated length of hospitalization ((6.3 ± 4.1)days) (r = 0.81, P < 0.01). The hospital days whose CRP can be decreased to normal within 3 days (4.3 ± 1.7 days) after antibiotic treatment were significantly shorter than the others (9.1 ± 5 days) (t = 2.61, P < 0.05). The length of hospitalization (4.3 ± 1.9 days) for patients (n = 12) receiving combined cefoperazone and sulbactam sodium antibiotic treatment was significantly shorter than the length of stay (9.3 ± 4.7 days) for those patients (n = 8) treated with other antibiotic regimens (t = 2.83, P < 0.05). Bacterial pathogens were identified in 4 patients (20%), including 3 cases of Staphylococcus aureus and 1 case of Streptococcus anginosus. Acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were found in the three pus cultures.

Conclusion: Early efficient antibiotic treatment over the first three days may shorten the course of nasal orbital cellulitis and potentially prevent the formation of orbital abscesses. Clinical factors that were significantly related to patient recovery included improved clinical signs and normalization of blood CRP levels. Our results also indicate that combined cefoperazone and sulbactam sodium is effective and should be recommended for the treatment of pediatric orbital cellulitis.