Treatment of acute abscesses by incision, curettage and primary suture without antibiotics: A controlled clinical trial

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-seven consecutive acute superficial abscesses were randomly allocated to incision, curettage and primary suture without parenteral antibiotics (64 cases) or to conventional treatment with incision, drainage and dressings (73 cases). Wound healing was faster; 7.0 days: 25.1 days (P<0.01, Wilcoxon's rank sum test), the number of hospital visits was smaller; 3.8 visits: 11.1 visits (P < 0.01) and the time off work was shorter; 4.0 days: 14.1 days (P<0.01) in the group treated by primary closure compared with those managed conventionally. In this study no complications attributable to the withholding of antibiotics occurred. Incision and primary closure of abscesses is safe and more economic than conventional drainage. Routine antibiotic cover is not necessary.