Vulvar abscess: a retrospective review

Vulvar abscesses can progress to cause significant illness requiring disfiguring surgical debridement, broad spectrum antibiotics, and require hospitalization. A retrospective review of de-identified charts of 13 patients admitted for inpatient care for vulvar abscesses from 2004-2009 at West Virginia University Hospitals was conducted. Risk factors for vulvar abscess in these patients included obesity and diabetes. Body mass index (BMI) is directly proportionate to the size of the abscess and increased risk of intensive care unit admission. Most patients did not seek medical care prior to hospital admission. Polymicrobial infections were common, and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was seen in two cases. The presence of multiple risk factors increased the length of hospitalization. Clinicians should be aware of these risk factors and initiate aggressive therapy for patients with elevated BMI or multiple risk factors.