Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin abscesses. Objective: To evaluate primary care pediatricians’ management of skin abscesses. Methods: A national mail survey of a random sample of 385 general pediatricians conducted from April to June 2010. Results: The response rate was 49%. Most respondents (72%) were aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for the management of soft tissue infections. Only 10% reported that no one in their practice could perform incision and drainage an uncomplicated abscess. Approximately one third (34%) reported that it is too time consuming to do so. About half (55%) were interested in further training in abscess management. Conclusion: Although most primary care pediatric practices are prepared to manage uncomplicated abscesses, more than half were interested in further training in the management of this condition. A comprehensive training program of skin infections could not only improve abscess management but also decrease barriers related to such care.

Keywords

primary health care methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus survey methods

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Chambers HF The changing epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus? Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;7:178-182.

Fridkin SK , Hageman JC , Morrison M. , et al; Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Program of the Emerging Infections Program Network. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus disease in three communities. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1436-1444.

Gorwitz RJ , Jernigan DB , Powers JH , Jernigan JA , Participants in the CDC-Convened Experts’ Meeting on Management of MRSA in the Community. Strategies for clinical management of MRSA in the community: summary of an experts’ meeting convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/CAMRSA_ExpMtgStrategies.pdf. Accessed November 3, 2010.

Dryden MS Skin and soft tissue infection: microbiology and epidemiology. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009;34(Suppl 1): S2-S7.

Rajendran PM , Young D. , Maurer T. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of cephalexin for treatment of uncomplicated skin abscesses in a population at risk for community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 ;51:4004-4048.

Schmitz GR , Bruner D. , Pitotti R. , et al. Randomized controlled trial of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole fo uncomplicated skin abscesses in patients at risk for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Ann Emerg Med. 2010;56: 283-287.

Duong M. , Markwell S. , Peter J. , Barenkamp S. Randomized , controlled trial of antibiotics in the management of community-acquired skin abscesses in the pediatric patient. Ann Emerg Med. 2010;55:401-407.

Miles PV Pediatric recertification and quality of care: the role of the American Board of Pediatrics in improving children’s health care. J Pediatr. 2007;151(5 Suppl): S17-S20.

Management of Skin Abscesses by Primary Care Pediatricians

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References