Incision and Drainage Versus Needle Aspiration in Soft Tissue Abscesses

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Abscess; Cellulitis
• Interventions: Procedure: Incision and Drainage; Procedure: Ultrasound Guided Aspiration

• Registration Number: NCT01085929
• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Brief Summary

The incidence of skin and soft tissue infections has increased dramatically over the last decade, in part due to increased prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Incision and drainage (I\&D) is considered the primary intervention, however some clinicians prefer ultrasound guided needle aspiration (US Asp). The investigators performed a randomized trial comparing US Asp to I\&D for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue abscesses, with a subgroup analysis of patients with CA-MRSA.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-08
• Primary Completion: 2009-11
• Study Completion: 2009-12
• Status Verified: 2010-03
• Study First Submitted: 2010-03-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-03-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-03-11
• Study First Posted: 2010-03-12
• Last Update Posted: 2010-03-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 101

Inclusion Criteria

• presenting to emergency department with skin abscess
• abscess required surgical drainage
• healthy appearing

Exclusion Criteria

• pregnant
• unable to give consent
• abscess located in oral cavity
• abscess located on genitalia
• abscess located intra-gluteal at coccyx

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Incision and Drainage	Incision and Drainage	Abscess underwent incision and drainage
Ultrasound guided needle aspiration	Ultrasound Guided Aspiration	Ultrasound was used to identify the abscess location. A needle was introduced into the abscess cavity and aspiration of the contents were attempted.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Successful drainage of abscess	7 days	Clinical outcome at 7 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Successful drainage of abscess	2 days	Healing of abscess following drainage procedure at day 2
Ability to evacuate purulence from abscess	Day 1	Amount of purulence produced by drainage procedure on day 1

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Massachusetts; 🇺🇸 Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States