Abscess + Antibiotics = Better Outcome?

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Current thinking is that incision and drainage of a simple cutaneous abscess is enough. Meaning no antibiotics needed. But can we do better? A recently published article in the NEJM suggests that giving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to patients with skin abscesses can improve cure rate after I and D as well as decrease the likelihood of recurrence.

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Mark C. - May 18, 2016 9:32 AM

Can we extrapolate these results to a customary dose of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole: 160mg and 800mg, twice daily?
(Treatment Guidelines The Medical Letter , Vol 11, July 2013)

Pierre-Alexandre L. - September 12, 2016 10:59 AM

External validity could be a concern as well.
MRSA prevalence was around 45% in this study.

What if the prevalence was lower around 15-20%, would the difference in clinical cure be as much as 7% like in this study?
I doubt.

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Abscess + Antibiotics = Better Outcome? Full episode audio for MD edition 16:30 min - 13 MB - M4AAbscess + Antibiotics = Better Outcome? 23 MB - MP3