Table 2. Characterization of True Cellulitis Cases Compared to Cases Misdiagnosed as Cellulitis
Variable |
All |
True Cellulitis |
Misdiagnosed as Cellulitis |
ORa |
95% CIb |
p-value |
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mean ± SD |
45±19 |
44±18 |
48±21 |
0.99 |
0.97, 1.01 |
0.46 |
Median (range) |
47.5 (1-90) |
46 (2-90) |
51 (1-85) |
|
|
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male |
84 (58) |
59 (57) |
25 (68) |
0.84 |
0.40, 1.8 |
0.78 |
Female |
61 (42) |
45 (43) |
16 (32) |
|
|
|
Comorbidities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diabetes Mellitus |
50 (34) |
36 (34) |
14 (34) |
1.2 |
0.55, 2.6 |
0.66 |
In the past 12 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous cellulitis infection |
38 (26) |
24 (23) |
14 (34) |
0.59 |
0.27, 1.3 |
0.19 |
Use of antibiotics at home |
38 (26) |
27 (26) |
11 (27) |
0.97 |
0.43, 2.2 |
0.94 |
Location of Involved Area |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leg/foot |
96 (66) |
69 (66) |
27 (66) |
Ref |
|
|
Head/neck |
16 (11) |
10 (10) |
6 (15) |
0.48 |
0.16, 1.4 |
0.18 |
Arm/hand |
24 (17) |
17 (16) |
7 (17) |
0.90 |
0.34, 2.4 |
0.84 |
Other |
9 (6) |
8 (8) |
1 (2) |
2.9 |
0.35, 24.9 |
0.32 |
Color of Involved Area |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pink/red |
132 (94) |
99 (96) |
33 (87) |
3.8 |
0.95, 14.8 |
0.059 |
Brown/black/other |
9 (6) |
4 (4) |
5 (13) |
|
|
|
White Blood Cell Count |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Normal |
71 (49) |
43 (41) |
28 (68) |
Ref |
|
|
Elevated |
68 (47) |
58 (55) |
10 (24) |
3.8 |
1.7, 8.6 |
0.001 |
Low |
6 (2) |
3 (4) |
3 (7) |
0.65 |
0.12, 3.5 |
0.61 |
Tenderness |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present |
131 (92) |
91 (90) |
37 (93) |
0.85 |
0.22, 3.3 |
0.81 |
Absent |
12 (8) |
9 (9) |
3 (7) |
|
|
|
Swelling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present |
119 (93) |
90 (96) |
29 (85) |
3.9 |
0.98, 15.4 |
0.054 |
Absent |
9 (7) |
4 (4) |
5 (15) |
|
|
|
a OR – odds ratio, b 95% CI – 95% confidence interval Ref-reference group