Antibiotic Duration, but Not Abscess Size, Impacts Clinical Cure of Limited Skin and Soft Tissue Infection After Incision and Drainage

Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 27;71(3):661-663. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz1129.

Abstract

Antibiotics are frequently prescribed following incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses. In subgroup analyses from a recent clinical trial, we observed higher likelihood of cure with antibiotic courses beyond 5 or 7 days (up to 10). Among this cohort, for abscesses ≤5 cm, size did not modify the antibiotic effect.

Keywords: SSTI; adjunctive antibiotic; clindamycin; incision and drainage; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / surgery
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drainage
  • Humans
  • Soft Tissue Infections* / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents