Treatment of Breast Abscesses Using Systemic and Local Antibiotics Navneet Kaur

Local instillation of antibiotics has been shown to lead to faster healing in many deep-seated abscesses. A prospective controlled clinical study was carried out in 27 patients with breast abscesses to evaluate the effect on healing of local instillation of antibiotic into the cavity of breast abscess. In the control group (n=13), ten patients were managed by needle aspirations and three underwent incision and drainage of the abscess cavity. These patients received oral antibiotics. In the study group (n=14), ten patients were managed needle aspirations and four underwent incision and drainage. These patients, besides oral antibiotics also received antibiotics locally by instillation of injection Cloxacillin into the abscess cavity. Patients in the study group managed by needle aspiration had a significant reduction in healing time (5.4 days compared to 10.5 in control group, p < 0.05) as well the number of aspirations (1.8 compared to 3.4 in control group, p< 0.05). A significant reduction in healing time was also seen, when recovery time of patients in the study group managed by open drainage (5.7 days) was compared to patients in control group (17.6 days, p<0.05). None of the patients developed any complication as a result of the application of antibiotics. From this study, it can be concluded that local instillation of antibiotics besides systemic administration is safe and results in faster healing of breast abscesses.