Keywords: Perichondritis of the pinna, Antibiotics, Emergency room, Hospitalization

Background:

Perichondritis of the pinna is an uncommon but potentially serious infection that may lead to cartilage destruction and cosmetic deformity if undertreated. While otolaryngology literature often focuses on hospital-based management, data from primary care settings remain sparse. Understanding long-term prescribing trends, referral patterns, and outcomes could illuminate the effectiveness and resource impact of initial primary care interventions.

Research questions:

We aim to investigate what antibiotics have been prescribed in primary care for perichondritis of the pinna between 2005 and 2025, and if there Are differences in clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization associated with specific antibiotic choices or prescribing patterns.

Method:

A retrospective population-based cohort study will be conducted using electronic medical records from 2005 to 2025 across primary care clinics. Cases of perichondritis will be identified by ICD coding and clinical documentation. Extracted data will include demographics, antibiotic prescriptions (agents, duration, combinations), referral and hospitalization rates, and outcomes documented at follow-up. Statistical analysis will examine temporal trends and compare outcomes between different antibiotic regimens using regression modeling adjusted for confounders such as age, comorbidities, and year of presentation.

Results:

Conclusions:

Points for discussion:

Trends of antibiotic use in your country for Perichondritis of the pinna

Do you usually refer to an intravenous treatment and an ENT examination or rather treat in the primary care setting

Further ideas for this study and interesting comparisons ?