Hospital admissions for skin and soft tissue infections in a population with endemic scabies: A prospective study in Fiji, 2018 –2019

by Li Jun Thean, Adam Jenney, Daniel Engelman, Lucia Romani, Handan Wand, Jyotishna Mudaliar, Jessica Paka, Tuliana Cua, Sera Taole, Aalisha Sahukhan, Mike Kama, Meciusela Tuicakau, Joseph Kado, Natalie Carvalho, Margot Whitfeld, John Kaldor, Andrew C. Steer Scabies is an important predisposing factor for impetigo but its role in more serious skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) is not well understood. Information is limited on incidence of SSTIs in the presence of endemic scabies. We conducted a prospective study of hospital admissions for SSTIs i n the Northern Division of Fiji (population: 131,914). Prospective surveillance for admissions with impetigo, abscess, cellulitis, wound infection, pyomyositis, necrotizing fasciitis, infected scabies, and crusted scabies was conducted at the Division’s referral hospital between 2018 to 2019. Info rmation was collected on demographic characteristics, clinical features, microbiology, treatment and outcomes. Over the study period, 788 SSTI admissions were recorded corresponding to a population incidence 647 per 100,000 person-years (95%CI 571–660). Incidence was highest at the extremes of age with peak incidence in children aged
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research