The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the bout of treatment for soft tissue infections

OBJECTIVES: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is often combined with antibiotic therapy for infections such as gas gangrene and osteomyelitis. Although numerous investigations have been undertaken to assess the effect of adjunctive HBO therapy on the treatment of infections, the bout of treatment has not been referred in the previous investigations. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of HBO therapy on the bout of treatment for soft tissue infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the period between 1994 and 2001, we treated 23 patients with soft tissue infections. Nine patients were treated with antibiotic chemotherapy alone, and 14 patients were treated with a combination of antibiotic chemotherapy and HBO therapy. The mean bout of treatment was compared between these two groups. RESULTS: The mean bout treated with a combination of antibiotic and HBO was significantly shorter than that with antibiotic alone. CONCLUSION: Our result indicates that HBO therapy combined with antibiotic therapy is able to shorten the bout of treatment for soft tissue infections. Therefore, we recommend HBO therapy combined with antibiotic therapy for soft tissue infections.