Skin and soft tissue abscess: 1 year's experience

The incidence of skin and soft tissue abscesses (SSTAs) has increased owing to the emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Some of these patients are treated as outpatients (OPs) and some as inpatients (IPs).

To review the microbiology and clinical features of SSTAs and the clinical parameters that may have influenced clinicians to treat patients as IPs.

The study was conducted in a 673-bed teaching hospital between January and December 2005. A retrospective chart review of patients identified from a microbiology culture log was conducted. Data were collected for demographics, underlying disease, SSTA number and site, recurrence rates, and clinical presentation.

One hundred thirty-eight patients were identified; 76 (55%) were female, with a mean age of 42 years (range 18-80 years); 76 (55.5%) had no underlying disease, 27 (19.6%) had diabetes, 20 (14.5%) had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and 13 (9.4%) were intravenous drug users. Common SSTA sites involved were the perineal area (43; 31.2%), upper extremities (35; 25.4%), lower extremities (19; 13.8%), head and neck (14; 10.1%), chest (13; 9.4%), and abdomen (8; 5.8%).

CA-MRSA was the most commonly isolated organism overall and in patients treated as OPs. The decision to treat SSTA patients as IPs seems to be influenced by SSTA number and site and the presence of fever at presentation. SSTA number and site (variables that led to the decision to treat patients as IPs) were confirmed by demonstrating statistical significance in the analysis between the IP and OP groups, but the other determinant of admission, the presence of fever at presentation, was based on chart review statements and not confirmed by statistical analysis between the IP and OP groups.