Managing the granulocytopenic patient with acute perianal inflammatory disease

Acute perianal inflammation concomitant with a decrease in the number of circulating granulocytes developed in 15 patients with various hematologic disorders. The treatment included antibiotic coverage alone (11 patients) or combined with surgical drainage of the inflamed area (7 patients). Our study shows that surgical drainage during agranulocytosis resulted in slow healing of the wound, prolonged hospitalization, and a higher mortality rate, when compared with the group that received antibiotics alone (28 percent versus 18 percent). The preferred treatment for these patients is the administration of broad spectrum antibiotics without attempting drainage of the infected area.