Treatment of axillary abscesses by incision and primary suture under antibiotic cover

Abstract

Axillary abscesses can be conveniently treated by incision, curettage and primary suture under antibiotic cover. Most patients attended hospital on three occasions, and the average duration of treatment was 6·6 days. Of the organisms isolated, staphylococci accounted for 93 per cent. The axilla is particularly prone to infection by these organisms. A recurrence rate of 6.6 per cent was recorded and this was partly due to proteus infections which were insensitive to lincomycin. Shaving of axillary hair probably contributes to the formation of axillary abscess and accounts for their preponderance in females.