Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Does An Abscess Need To Be Drained Or Can Be Treated With Antibiotics?
Female, 38, weight 120lbs, height 5'4, good health, runner, etc., has been diagnosed with a staph infection, taking Septra DS and Clyndamiacin (sp). The infection started as abcess in right sinus and now I have lesions on face that also tested postivie for Staph. Quesition is I have been taking these antibiotics for over a week and the lesions are starting to close up, but they have never truly drained. Does an abcess need to drain or will the antibiotics just take care of the Staph? I'm afraid the lesions will just close up and the whole process will start over again which is exactly what happened in the first place to get to this point. Thank you for any information you may have.
posted on
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 11 Jan 2015
Answered on
Mon, 12 Jan 2015
Last reviewed on
Hi
Thanks for your query
Based on your query and findings, my opinion is
1. Most often antibiotics are enough to treat an abscess.
2. In a small number of cases it needs to be drained in the scenario of painful lesion, or large lesion.
3. In your case abscess is sealed off that means, it is walled off by fibrous tissue. If the swelling has come down, then no need to bother.
4. However if the swelling increases in size/ gets more painful then you need to get it drained, also change the antibiotics depending on culture sensitivity of the pus.
Hope this helps.
Wish you good health
Thanks for your query
Based on your query and findings, my opinion is
1. Most often antibiotics are enough to treat an abscess.
2. In a small number of cases it needs to be drained in the scenario of painful lesion, or large lesion.
3. In your case abscess is sealed off that means, it is walled off by fibrous tissue. If the swelling has come down, then no need to bother.
4. However if the swelling increases in size/ gets more painful then you need to get it drained, also change the antibiotics depending on culture sensitivity of the pus.
Hope this helps.
Wish you good health
I find this answer helpful
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Septra
Loading Online Doctors....