abscess

Pathology

• a circumscribed collection of purulent fluid occurring in acute or chronic infection
• abscesses occur secondary to local tissue destruction

Clinical manifestations

• swelling & other signs of inflammation are frequently associated.

Laboratory

• gram stain & culture if associated systemic symptoms

Management

• incision & drainage
• packing of abscesses is painful & of no benefit
• if associated with systemic symptoms
• empiric antibiotics if associated systemic symptoms
  • Bactrim or doxycycline (oral) for moderate infection
  • intravenous vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, or ceftaroline for severe infection

More general terms

• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)

More specific terms

• abdominal abscess
• abscess of bursa
• bone abscess
• breast abscess
• Brodie's abscess
• carbuncle (carbunculosis)
• epididymal/testicular abscess
• epidural abscess
• furuncle
• hepatic abscess
• hidradenitis suppurativa; cicatrizing perifolliculitis; follicular occlusion syndrome; acne inversa
• intracranial abscess
• intraspinal abscess
• iris abscess
• jaw abscess; jaw mass
• parapharyngeal abscess
• pelvic abscess
• periodontal abscess
• perirectal abscess
• peritonsillar abscess
• prostatic abscess
• psoas abscess
• pulmonary abscess
• retroperitoneal abscess
• retropharyngeal abscess
• subcutaneous abscess; boil
• subphrenic abscess; subdiaphragmatic abscess