What follow-up care is necessary after drainage of a cutaneous abscess to ensure proper healing?

After drainage of a cutaneous abscess, follow-up care is crucial to ensure proper healing, particularly as these wounds typically heal by secondary intention ¹.

• Wound Management:
  • When changing or removing surgical wound dressings, an aseptic non-touch technique should be used ¹.
  • For wound cleansing, sterile saline should be used for up to 48 hours after surgery ¹. After 48 hours, if the surgical wound has separated or was surgically opened to drain pus, tap water can be used for cleansing ¹.
  • An appropriate interactive dressing should be used to manage surgical wounds healing by secondary intention ¹. It is important not to use Eusol and gauze, moist cotton gauze, or mercuric antiseptic solutions for these wounds ¹.
  • For advice on appropriate dressings for wounds healing by secondary intention, consult a tissue viability nurse or another healthcare professional with tissue viability expertise ¹.
  • Eusol and gauze, dextranomer, or enzymatic treatments should not be used for debridement in the management of surgical site infection ¹.
• Infection Monitoring and Treatment:
  • If a surgical site infection is suspected, indicated by cellulitis, a new infection, or treatment failure, an antibiotic covering the likely causative organisms should be prescribed ¹. The choice of antibiotic should consider local resistance patterns and microbiological test results ¹.
  • Patients must always be informed if they have been given antibiotics after their operation ¹.
• Patient Education and Support:
  • Patients and carers should receive clear, consistent information and advice throughout their care, including the risks of surgical site infections, prevention measures, and management strategies ¹.
  • Information and advice on how to care for the wound after discharge should be provided ¹.
  • Patients and carers should be advised on how to recognise a surgical site infection and who to contact if they have concerns, ideally using an integrated care pathway ¹.
  • Patients can be advised that they may shower safely 48 hours after surgery ¹.
• Structured Care Approach:
  • A structured approach to care should be implemented to improve overall management of surgical wounds, which includes enhanced education for healthcare workers, patients, and carers, and sharing of clinical expertise ¹.