Abscesses are walled off collections of pus in soft tissue, with Staphylococcus aureus (both sensitive and resistant to methicillin) being the microbe most frequently involved. Most uncomplicated abscesses should undergo incision in the emergency department using local analgesia or procedural sedation, complete drainage and appropriate follow-up. Evidence suggests that antibiotics are not routinely required after abscess incision and drainage of an uncomplicated abscess. Physicians should not prescribe antibiotics for these patients, unless the patients are immunocompromised, systemically ill, or exhibit extensive surrounding cellulitis or lymphangitis.

Conditions: Skin Abscess, Infection

Procedures: Incision and Drainage (I and D)

Treatments: Antibiotics