Irrigation Versus no Irrigation for Cutaneous Abscess

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cutaneous Abscess
• Interventions: Procedure: Irrigation; Other: No Irrigation

• Registration Number: NCT01606657
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Brief Summary

In this study, the investigators are trying to find out if washing out the abscess (pocket of pus) with fluid will help, instead of only taking out the pus. Your care will be the same as usual, except that you will be selected randomly to have your abscess washed out with fluid, or not.

Detailed Description

Irrigation of the abscess cavity is commonly described as part of the procedure of incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses (1-4). Despite this, there are no randomized controlled trials that demonstrate the benefit of irrigation in treatment of these abscesses. Potential disadvantages of irrigation include increased procedural time, pain, increased cost with sterile irrigation solutions and materials to capture the irrigation effluent, and increased risk of microbiologic contamination of the surrounding area. The goal of this study is to examine patients undergoing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses to determine if irrigation of the abscess cavity affects the need for further interventions.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-08
• Study First Submitted: 2012-05-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-05-23
• Study First Posted: 2012-05-28
• Primary Completion: 2014-09
• Study Completion: 2015-04
• Status Verified: 2017-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-05-01
• Last Update Posted: 2017-05-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 201

Inclusion Criteria

1. All patients 18 years of age and above
2. Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage

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Exclusion Criteria

1. Unable to return for 48-hour followup.
2. Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage
3. Pregnant patients
4. Prisoners

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Irrigation	Irrigation	THE PATIENT IS TO HAVE IRRIGATION OF THE ABSCESS WITH NORMAL SALINE AS PART OF THE I\&D PROCEDURE
No Irrigation	No Irrigation	THE PATIENT IS NOT TO HAVE IRRIGATION OF THE ABSCESS AS PART OF THE I\&D PROCEDURE

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patients needing further treatment after irrigation for I&D	7 day phone follow-up	Percentage of patients needing further treatment i. Further treatment defined as; 1. Repeat I\&D; 2. Addition of an antibiotic (as new or to a pre-existing antibiotic); 3. Admission to hospital for cutaneous abscess-related problem; 1. Abscess; 2. Cellulitis; 3. Septic arthritis; 4. Sepsis

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
VAS is correlated with decreased pain after I&D	two years	1) VAS post procedure pain score

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Community Regional Trauma and Burn Center; 🇺🇸 Fresno, California, United States