Is Routine Packing of Cutaneous Abscesses Necessary?
University of California, San Francisco
Summary
The goal of this study is to examine patients undergoing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses to determine if routine packing of the abscess cavity affects the need for further interventions such as repeat incision and drainage, antibiotic administration or hospital admission.
Description
Study protocol: 1. Identification of a patient with a cutaneous abscess requiring incision and drainage 2. Written consent obtained from the patient 3. Study materials will be obtained * Enrolling physician fills out pre-procedure information (see data sheet) * Enrollment data sheet has instructions indicating whether patient is to receive packing or not * Use of random number generator to randomize all packets * Provider does abscess incision and drainage with or without packing according to the instructions * Enrolling physician fills out post-procedure information (see d…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. All patients 18 years of age and above 2. Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage 3. English-speaking subjects only Exclusion Criteria: 1. Unable to return for 48-hour follow-up. 2. Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage 3. Pregnant patients 4. Patients less than 18 years of age 5. Prisoners or persons in police custody 6. Patients with infected bursa 7. Non-English speaking subjects
Interventions
- ProcedurePacking
The patient will receive packing as part of their wound care
- OtherNo packing
The patient will not receive packing as part of their wound care
Location
- Community Regional Medical CenterFresno, California