Abstract
Background: Severe orofacial infections are end results of initially long and slow
disease process, usually of odontogenic origin. The outcome of the management
of these conditions is to a large extent affected by the duration of the disease and
extent of spread prior to presentation in the hospital. Mediastinitis, pleuritis,
cerebral abscess and meningitis are documented complications secondary to
spreading odontogenic infections. Odontogenic infections should therefore, be
handled as an urgency to prevent acute emergency situations. Methods: We
present two cases of severe orofacial infections that were seen and managed at
our center. Findings: Apart from the advanced age of the case 2, there was no
systemic co-morbidity that usually predispose to severe orofacial infection, and
while normal oral flora was found in case 1, microscopy culture and sensitivity did
not yield any growth in case 2. Successful management of the two cases was,
however, achieved with aggressive serial surgical debridement. Conclusion:
successful management of these patients through serial surgical debridement
further lends credence to the importance of less dependence on waiting to know
the microbiology and its potentially harmful sensitive medications in the
management of severe orofacial infections.
