RT Book, Section
A1 Chow, Anthony W.
A2 Hall, Jesse B.
A2 Schmidt, Gregory A.
A2 Kress, John P.
SR Print(0)
ID 1107721092
T1 Life-Threatening Infections of the Head, Neck, and Upper Respiratory Tract
T2 Principles of Critical Care, 4e
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071738811
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1107721092
RD 2024/04/19
AB A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  deep  cervical  fascial  spaces  and  their  interrelationships  and  anatomic  routes  of  spread  is  a  prerequisite  to  optimal  management  of  life-threatening  head  and  neck  infections.The  microbial  etiology  of  deep  infections  of  the  head  and  neck  is  complex  and  typically  polymicrobial.The  development  of  marked  asymmetry  in  the  course  of  a  submandibular  space  infection  should  be  viewed  with  great  concern,  since  it  may  be  indicative  of  extension  to  the  lateral  pharyngeal  space.In  immunocompromised  patients,  the  classical  manifestations  of  infection,  such  as  edema  and  fluctuance  at  the  local  site  and  features  of  systemic  toxicity,  may  be  absent.β-lactam-β-lactamase  inhibitor  or  penicillin  in  combination  with  metronidazole  is  the  antibiotic  regimen  of  choice  for  odontogenic  deep  neck  infections,  but  immunocompromised  patients  require  a  broader-spectrum  against  organisms  such  as  Staphylococcus  aureus  and  enteric  gram-negative  rods.Chronic  sinusitis,  otitis,  and  mastoiditis  are  the  most  important  causes  of  parameningeal  infection  and  intracranial  suppuration.  Computed  tomography  is  the  single  imaging  technique  proven  to  be  the  most  useful  for  the  diagnosis  of  these  conditions.