injuries poisoning
How To Incise and Drain an Abscess
Aftercare for Incising and Draining an Abscess
Reevaluate and redress the wound in 24 to 48 hours. Exceptions are some small abscesses, such as paronychias or small furuncles, which do not need to be monitored as closely. Drainage relieves most of the pain of an abscess, but postoperative analgesics may be required. Instruct the patient to elevate the wound and not disturb the dressing and splint before the first follow-up visit. Any packing may be removed once there is healthy granulation tissue throughout the cavity and there is no longer any drainage. Have the patient begin warm soaks and gentle hydrostatic debridement at home (ask the patient to hold the skin incision open and direct the shower or faucet spray into the abscess cavity). Continue dressing changes every 1 to 2 days and follow-up visits as needed until fully healed. Patients should be reevaluated if they have worsening pain, increased drainage, or spreading erythema. Prescribe empiric antibiotic therapy after drainage with a drug active against Staphylococcal Infections (MRSA) and beta-hemolytic streptococci in patients who have the following: Significant associated cellulitis or septic thrombophlebitis A deep abscess Multiple or recurrent abscesses Systemic symptoms and signs Immunocompromise A facial abscess above the upper lip and below the brow High-risk patients , particularly with severe or extensive disease, comorbid conditions, extremes of age, or an abscess on the face, a hand, or the genitals Patients should receive antibiotics for at least 5 to 7 days after the procedure. Consider admission for anyone immunocompromised with systemic symptoms (eg fever, chills) or anyone with signs of Sepsis and Septic Shock . A common practice is to give an initial IV dose of antibiotic in the emergency department, followed by oral antibiotics. 