Abscesses are one of the most common skin conditions managed by general practitioners and emergency physicians. The incidence of skin abscesses has increased,1-5 and this increase has coincided with the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In many parts of the world, MRSA infections are now the most common cause of skin abscesses.6 Community-associated MRSA has also been found to cause severe infections — including necrotizing pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, purpura fulminans, and severe sepsis — in nonimmunocompromised hosts; however, its apparently increased virulence as compared with that of health care–associated strains and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus is incompletely understood.7-10 Along with the increases in the incidence of skin abscesses and MRSA infections, other changes that potentially affect abscess care have occurred. Bedside ultrasonography has become increasingly available in emergency departments and hospitals. Traditional surgical practices have been systematically tested, and new techniques developed. Prevention strategies have also been investigated. Despite these changes, the management of skin abscesses is highly variable.11-13
In this article, we describe our approach to the management of common skin abscesses that generally involve the extremities and trunk. Lesions that may require unique surgical approaches or that have a more complex microbiologic basis, such as abscesses in the perineal area, are not addressed. Whenever possible, our recommendations are based on randomized trials. However, many of the recommendations are based on small, observational studies or expert opinion; thus, we recognize that there may be disagreement with some of our recommendations. Nevertheless, the approach we advise has been shown to be workable and useful in our practice.