Irrigation Versus no Irrigation for Cutaneous Abscess

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Is Routine Irrigation of Cutaneous Abscesses Necessary?

Conditions
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Cutaneous Abscess

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Irrigation
* Other: No Irrigation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All patients 18 years of age and above Patients that require a cutaneous abscess incision and drainage Exclusion Criteria: Unable to return for 48-hour followup. Patients being admitted to the hospital or going to the operating room for incision and drainage Pregnant patients Prisoners

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Irrigation<br>THE PATIENT IS TO HAVE IRRIGATION OF THE ABSCESS WITH NORMAL SALINE AS PART OF THE I&D PROCEDURE | Procedure: Irrigation<br>* The patient will receive irrigation as a part of their wound care<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: No Irrigation<br>THE PATIENT IS NOT TO HAVE IRRIGATION OF THE ABSCESS AS PART OF THE I&D PROCEDURE | Other: No Irrigation<br>* The patient will not receive irrigation as part of their wound care<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patients needing further treatment after irrigation for I&D | Percentage of patients needing further treatment i. Further treatment defined as Repeat I&D Addition of an antibiotic (as new or to a pre-existing antibiotic) Admission to hospital for cutaneous abscess-related problem Abscess Cellulitis Septic arthritis Sepsis | 7 day phone follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VAS is correlated with decreased pain after I&D | 1) VAS post procedure pain score | two years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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I&D, Abscess, Irrigation, Cutaneous Abscess