Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:02:38.577Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Necrotising otitis externa and how to reduce length of hospital stay: a complete audit cycle of 77 hospital admissions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2021

H Mohammed ,
J Chean Khun Ng ,
M H Qureshi  and
P Yates
H Mohammed*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, UK
J Chean Khun Ng
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, UK
M H Qureshi
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, UK
P Yates
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr H Mohammed, Department of ENT, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon TyneNE7 7DN, UK E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Necrotising otitis externa is a serious condition that requires hospital admission. Longer hospital stays are associated with increased complications.

Method

This was a closed audit cycle in a tertiary ENT centre of patients presenting with necrotising otitis externa to the ENT department between 2015 and 2019. The aim was to audit the length of hospital stay in comparison to national figures as well as the time needed for investigations.

Results

The number of patients with necrotising otitis externa is increasing in England. Length of stay, however, appears to be more stable. A total of 66 admissions occurred over the study period for 48 patients in total, and mean length of stay was 12.4 days. After implementation of a new protocol, length of stay was reduced to 7.1 days.

Conclusion

Patients with necrotising otitis externa require prompt diagnosis and management in order to shorten length of stay in hospital and avoid serious complications. Multi-disciplinary protocol development and implementation could help in reducing length of stay of necrotising otitis externa patients.

Keywords

Skull BaseOsteomyelitisLength Of StayInpatientsCosts And Cost Analysis
Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 7 , July 2022 , pp. 668 - 673
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Dr H Mohammed takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

Nadol, JB. Histopathology of pseudomonas osteomyelitis of the temporal bone starting as malignant external otitis. Am J Otolaryngol 1980;1:359–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lesser, FD, Derbyshire, SG, Lewis-Jones, H. Can computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging differentiate between malignant pathology and osteomyelitis in the central skull base? J Laryngol Otol 2015;129:852–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carfrae, MJ, Kesser, BW. Malignant otitis externa. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008;41:537–49CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahdyoun, P, Pulcini, C, Gahide, I, Raffaelli, C, Savoldelli, C, Castillo, L et al. Necrotizing otitis externa: a systematic review. Otol Neurotol 2013;34:620–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carlton, DA, Perez, EE, Smouha, EE. Malignant external otitis: the shifting treatment paradigm. Am J Otolaryngol 2018;39:41–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schimmel, EM. The hazards of hospitalization. Qual Saf Heal Care 2003;12:58–63CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amyas, M. Discharging older patients from hospital. National audit office. In: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/discharging-older-patients-from-hospital/ [10 January 2021]Google Scholar
NHS Digital. Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2017-18. In: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2017-18 [10 January 2021]Google Scholar
National Health Service. The NHS long term plan. In: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nhs-long-term-plan-version-1.2.pdf [10 January 2021]Google Scholar
Kroonenburgh, AM, Meer, WL, Bothof, R, Tilburg, M, Tongeren, J, Postma, AA. Advanced imaging techniques in skull base osteomyelitis due to malignant otitis externa. Curr Radiol Rep 2018;6:3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fernandez, J-L, McGuire, A, Raikou, M. Hospital coordination and integration with social care in England: the effect on post-operative length of stay. J Health Econ 2018;61:233–43CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed