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abscess
Pathology:
- a circumscribed collection of purulent fluid occurring in acute or chronic infection
- abscesses occur secondary to local tissue destruction
Clinical manifestations:
- swelling & other signs of inflammation are frequently associated.
Laboratory:
- gram stain & culture if associated systemic symptoms [3]
Management:
- incision & drainage
- packing of abscesses is painful & of no benefit [2]
- if associated with systemic symptoms
- empiric antibiotics if associated systemic symptoms
- Bactrim or doxycycline (oral) for moderate infection
- intravenous vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, or ceftaroline for severe infection [3]
Specific
abdominal abscess
abscess of bursa
bone abscess
breast abscess
Brodie's abscess
carbuncle (carbunculosis)
epididymal/testicular abscess
epidural abscess
furuncle
hepatic abscess
hidradenitis suppurativa; cicatrizing perifolliculitis; follicular occlusion syndrome; acne inversa
intracranial abscess
intraspinal abscess
iris abscess
jaw abscess; jaw mass
parapharyngeal abscess
pelvic abscess
periodontal abscess
perirectal abscess
peritonsillar abscess
prostatic abscess
psoas abscess
pulmonary abscess
retroperitoneal abscess
retropharyngeal abscess
subcutaneous abscess; boil
subphrenic abscess; subdiaphragmatic abscess
General
abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 26th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1995
- The NNT: Packing of Abscesses after Incision and Drainage to
Prevent Recurrent/Repeat Infection
http://www.thennt.com/nnt/packing-abscesses-for-recurrent-infection/
- O'Malley GF, Dominici P, Giraldo P et al
Routine packing of simple cutaneous abscesses is painful and
probably unnecessary.
Acad Emerg Med. 2009 May;16(5):470-3
PMID: 19388915
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2021