Incision and Drainage Versus Needle Aspiration in Soft Tissue Abscesses

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Cellulitis; Abscess

Treatments: Procedure: Ultrasound Guided Aspiration; Procedure: Incision and Drainage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01085929

UMass12522

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 101 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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101 participants in 2 patient groups

Incision and Drainage

Active Comparator group

Description:

Abscess underwent incision and drainage

Treatment:

Procedure: Incision and Drainage

Ultrasound guided needle aspiration

Active Comparator group

Description:

Ultrasound was used to identify the abscess location. A needle was introduced into the abscess cavity and aspiration of the contents were attempted.

Treatment:

Procedure: Ultrasound Guided Aspiration