Efficacy Study of 3 Versus 10 Days of Antibiotics in Skin Abscesses After Surgical Drainage

Condition(s) targeted: Skin Disease, Bacterial; Abscess

Intervention: Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Drug)

Phase: N/A

Status: Completed

Sponsored by: Lucy Holmes, MD

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Lucy C Holmes, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University at Buffalo
Howard Faden, MD, Study Chair, Affiliation: University at Buffalo

The objective of this study is to determine if there is a difference in treatment failures between 3 and 10 days of antibiotics for uncomplicated skin abscesses after they have been surgically drained.

Official title: Randomized Trial of 3 Versus 10 Days of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Community-Associated Skin Abscesses After Surgical Drainage

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome: Number of Treatment Failures in 3 Versus 10 Day Antibiotic Groups

Secondary outcome:

Incidence of New Lesions in Index Patient in 3 Versus 10 Day Antibiotic Groups

Incidence of New Lesions in Household Contacts in 3 Versus 10 Day Antibiotic Groups

Minimum age: 3 Months. Maximum age: 17 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- patients presenting with a skin abscess that requires surgical drainage (induration

greater than 2 cm in diameter)

- minimally invasive surgical technique with the insertion of a subcutaneous drain can

be utilized on the patient Exclusion Criteria:

- patients requiring immediate hospitalization

- patients who have received 2 or more doses of antibiotics in the previous 36 hours

- patients with diabetes, sickle-cell disease, an immuno-compromising disease, an

underlying medical condition predisposing the patient to frequent hospitalizations or medical visits, or indwelling catheters or percutaneous medical devices

- patients with a concurrent, different, additional infection

- patients with an allergy to Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14222, United States

Related publications:

Duong M, Markwell S, Peter J, Barenkamp S. Randomized, controlled trial of antibiotics in the management of community-acquired skin abscesses in the pediatric patient. Ann Emerg Med. 2010 May;55(5):401-7. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.03.014. Epub 2009 May 5.

Schmitz GR, Bruner D, Pitotti R, Olderog C, Livengood T, Williams J, Huebner K, Lightfoot J, Ritz B, Bates C, Schmitz M, Mete M, Deye G. Randomized controlled trial of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for uncomplicated skin abscesses in patients at risk for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Sep;56(3):283-7. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2010.03.002. Epub 2010 Mar 26. Erratum in: Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Nov;56(5):588.

Starting date: February 2010
Last updated: September 12, 2014