Question

John, a 22 year old construction worker, presented to his primary care doctor with a swollen red spot on his upper back. John is overweight and has high blood pressure, for which he takes a diuretic daily. He works outdoors and since it is summer he gets hot and sweaty and will often change his shirt during the day at work. He states over the last few days he has had a sore spot on his back that has gotten larger and it now hurts when he leans back against a chair. During a physical he was found to have a low grade fever, and a fluctuant abscess that was 2cm x 3 cm ovoid, with another 2 cm in surrounding erythema. The area was very tender to the touch and so his doctor performed an I & D (incision and drainage) of the site in the office and prescribed John an oral antibiotic. The wound was packed with gauze and he was told to return in 2 days to have the gauze removed.

Required:
a. What are the most common causative agents for abscess formation?
b. If John did not go to his doctor what are some complications that could occur from not seeking treatment for his abscess?
c. What was the purpose of giving John an oral antibiotic and why was the wound packed with gauze?

Answer 1

a. What are the most common causative agents for abscess formation?

An abscess is the formation of a pocket of pus in a localized area of the body, as a result of an infection by bacteria or fungi.

b. If John did not go to his doctor what are some complications that could occur from not seeking treatment for his abscess?

The infection may have spread to other parts of the body.

c. What was the purpose of giving John an oral antibiotic and why was the wound packed with gauze?

Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria, causing bacterial death or inhibition. The gauze will absorb the drainage, allowing the abscess to heal.

Step-by-step explanation:

a. What are the most common causative agents for abscess formation?

Abscesses can form in almost any part of the body and are caused by infections, mainly bacterial, such as 'Staphylococcus aureus', parasites and foreign materials. For it to occur, germs from outside must come into contact with the tissue. Sometimes, this contact is due to an alteration in the skin by a wound, erosion or puncture, the infection is encapsulating, that is, it closes on itself, remaining isolated as a bag with pus inside.

b. If John did not go to his doctor what are some complications that could occur from not seeking treatment for his abscess?

An abscess is an infection and, as such, if not treated, it can have significant consequences, such as spread of the infection locally or even widespread spread of it.

c. What was the purpose of giving John an oral antibiotic and why was the wound packed with gauze?

The antibiotic is capable of inhibiting growth or destroying a bacterial cell, fighting infection, making it difficult for bacteria to grow and multiply. The wound was packed with gauze, as it allows the pus to continue draining and prevents the abscess from re-forming, preventing it from coming into contact with pollutants, helping its recovery.