Incision and Drainage Versus Needle Aspiration in Soft Tissue Abscesses

Completed · Phase 3

Conditions studied: Abscess, Cellulitis

In brief

The incidence of skin and soft tissue infections has increased dramatically over the last decade, in part due to increased prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Incision and drainage (I\&D) is considered the primary intervention, however some clinicians prefer ultrasound guided needle aspiration (US Asp). The investigators performed a randomized trial comparing US Asp to I\&D for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue abscesses, with a subgroup analysis of patients with CA-MRSA.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01085929

Run by

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

People needed

101

Starts

2008-08-01

Expected to finish

2009-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2010-03-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• presenting to emergency department with skin abscess
• abscess required surgical drainage
• healthy appearing

You may not qualify if…

• pregnant
• unable to give consent
• abscess located in oral cavity
• abscess located on genitalia
• abscess located intra-gluteal at coccyx

Where it is running

• Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• University of Massachusetts — Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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