Results: There were 57 male and 43 female patients (average age 37 years). The most
common infections were of odontogenic (67) and skin (14) origin. The submandibular (69%)
and buccal (60%) spaces were more commonly involved. Sixty-six cases had multiple space
involvement. Seventy-eight cases had swabs taken for microbiology culture and sensitivity,
with 67 (85.9%) having microorganisms isolated. Fifty (74.6%) of these were aerobic
infections and 17 (25.4%) anaerobic. Bacteria were isolated in 64 (95.5%) cultures. 70.1% of
the bacteria were gram positive. Gram-positive cocci were isolated in 65.4% of cultures. The
most common bacteria isolated were streptococcus. 73.4% of the bacteria were sensitive to
amoxicillin and 81.3% sensitive to both amoxicillin and metronidazole. 15.6% were resistant
to penicillin, which were Staphylococcus aureus from skin infections.