When Is an Abscess Drainable?

When wick material is inside the cavity where the abscess was, your doctor will either repack or remove it a few days after the procedure. For the first day or two after the procedure, you might have some drainage. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics as well as pain medication.

What is a drainable abscess?

One definition of an abscess is an infected fluid collection that is drainable. A common dictum is as follows: "If it will not go through a catheter, it cannot be drained; if it is not infected, it is not an abscess." Differentiating a phlegmon from an abscess can be difficult.

How big does an abscess have to be to be drained?

Skin abscesses >0.4 centimeters (cm) in depth may require a drainage procedure, while those <0.4 cm may be safely treated with antibiotics alone. Additional data is needed to determine an optimal size cut-off for when a drainage procedure is not necessary.