Orofacial Infection Number Decrease during COVID-19 Pandemic

This study analyses trends in orofacial infection hospital admissions at a single department, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Admission counts fluctuated over the study period, but 2020 (n=65) and 2021 (n=56) showed a statistically significant decrease, falling slightly outside the 95% confidence interval of a linear trend established for 2014-2019. In 2022, the number of admitted patients (n=63) remained below average but within the confidence interval, while 2023 saw an increase to 97 patients. A notable shift in treatment methods was observed during the pandemic years. The proportion of patients treated with extraoral revision increased, with the most pronounced disparity in 2020 (n=40:10, 80%:20% extraoral revision-to-local treatment ratio). Statistical analysis (chi-square test, p<0.001) confirmed significant differences across the years. Comparing COVID-19-affected years (2020-2022) with non-COVID years (2014-2019 and 2023), 73% of patients were treated with extraoral revision during the pandemic, compared to 49% in non-COVID years (p<0.001). Additionally, only 44 patients were treated with antibiotics alone, whereas 75 would have been expected in the absence of COVID-19-related disruptions. These findings suggest that the pandemic influenced both the number of orofacial infection admissions and the treatment approach.