Table 3. Comparison between patients with positive blood cultures with microorganisms possibly related to the oral cavity and patients with positive blood cultures with microorganisms unrelated to the oral cavity.
| Variables | Patients with microorganisms related to the oral cavity (total N=7) | Patients with microorganisms unrelated to the oral cavity (total N=29) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline presence of acute oral foci of infection | 0 | 3 | 0.374a |
| Baseline presence of chronic oral foci of infection | 6 | 21 | 0.466a |
| Baseline presence of periodontal pockets ⩾6 mm | 2 | 12 | 0.533a |
| Baseline presence of periapical granuloma | 5 | 11 | 0.109a |
| Baseline presence of caries profunda | 1 | 2 | 0.526a |
| Baseline presence of impacted teeth | 2 | 4 | 0.346a |
| Smoking, yes/no | 1/6 | 7b/21 | 0.546a |
| Median (IQR) | Median (IQR) | P-value | |
| Duration of neutropenia in days | 11 (7–41) | 23 (8–46) | 0.531 |
| Duration of fever in days | 9 (4–24) | 9 (4.5–15) | 0.969 |
| Duration of severe oral mucositis in days in 17 patients with severe oral mucositis | 3.5 (1.25–8), N=4 | 5 (2.5–9.5), N=13 | 0.477 |
| PISA score in mm2 | 419.5 (94.5–1025)c | 412 (142–650.75)b | 1.0 |
| Plaque scores in % | 25 (10–57.5)c | 30 (20–50)b | 0.494 |
| Bleeding scores in % | 30 (7.5–76.25)c | 30 (20–50)b | 0.612 |
| Age in years | 49 (28–62) | 50 (44–60) | 0.969 |
Abbreviations: IQR=interquartile range; PISA=periodontal inflamed surface area.
a
Results χ2 tests. All other variables were tested using Mann–Whitney tests.
b
Because of missing value, N=28.
c
Because of missing value, N=6.