The role of C-reactive protein and white blood cell count in the prediction of length of stay in hospital and severity of odontogenic abscess

Odontogenic infections and subsequent developing abscess remain to be a potentially life-threatening event, due to septicemia, airway compression and spreading into sensitive anatomic tissues. C-reactive proten (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count are routinely blood-measured indicators for inflammation. Are CRP-levels and WBC-count predictive factors of the developement of odontogenic abscess? A 4-year retrospective study evaluated hospital records of 218 patients, diagnosed and inpatiently treated for acute odontogenic abscess. They received surgical incision, drainage and intravenous antibiotics. CRP-levels and WBC-counts were measured preoperativly. 218 subjects were enrolled in this study. Patients hospitalized 10 days or more showed significantly higher CRP-levels (p = < 0.001) and WBC-counts (p = 0.006) on admission day than patients with lower LOS. CRP-levels of patients with LOS from 7–9 days were significantly lower (p = 0.47) than in people hospitalized 10 days or more. Abscess focus in the mandible shows significantly higher WBC-counts (p = 0.014). Multiple space infections present a significantly higher CRP (p = 0.003) and WBC (p < 0.001) on admission day. According to the presented data, CRP-levels and WBC-count can be regarded as predictive factors for LOS (length of stay in hospital) in patients with long term hospitalization (CRP:7–9 days and > 10 days; WBC: > 10 days). Further WBC and CRP are suitable to predict multiple space infections and localisation of the abscess (WBC) in certain limits. In predicting the developement of odontogenic abscess, CRP is more capable in providing exact statements regarding the LOS. However, WBC-counts are more suitable in predicting multiple space infections and localization of infection.