In this study, the investigators are trying to find out if washing out the abscess (pocket of pus) with fluid will help, instead of only taking out the pus. Your care will be the same as usual, except that you will be selected randomly to have your abscess washed out with fluid, or not.
Irrigation of the abscess cavity is commonly described as part of the procedure of incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses (1-4). Despite this, there are no randomized controlled trials that demonstrate the benefit of irrigation in treatment of these abscesses. Potential disadvantages of irrigation include increased procedural time, pain, increased cost with sterile irrigation solutions and materials to capture the irrigation effluent, and increased risk of microbiologic contamination of the surrounding area. The goal of this study is to examine patients undergoing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses to determine if irrigation of the abscess cavity affects the need for further interventions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
201
The patient will receive irrigation as a part of their wound care
The patient will not receive irrigation as part of their wound care
Community Regional Trauma and Burn Center
Fresno, California, United States
Patients needing further treatment after irrigation for I&D
Percentage of patients needing further treatment i. Further treatment defined as 1. Repeat I\&D 2. Addition of an antibiotic (as new or to a pre-existing antibiotic) 3. Admission to hospital for cutaneous abscess-related problem 1. Abscess 2. Cellulitis 3. Septic arthritis 4. Sepsis
Time frame: 7 day phone follow-up
VAS is correlated with decreased pain after I&D
1\) VAS post procedure pain score
Time frame: two years
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