Table 4.
Odds ratios for the failure of treatment with antibiotics alone compared to zero risk factors
| Number of risk factors | Odds ratio | 95% confidence interval | p value | Number of patients treated with antibiotics alone, n | Number of patients with failure of antibiotic treatment, n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Reference | 101 | 5 (5%) | ||
| 1 | 5.6 | 1.8–17.1 | 0.003 | 49 | 11 (22%) |
| ≥ 2 | 15.6 | 4.9–49.7 | < 0.001 | 29 | 13 (45%) |
Risk factors for failure of treatment were corticosteroid use, abscess diameter ≥ 50 mm, and white blood cell count ≥ 15.0 × 109/l.