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Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA), causes the majority of skin and soft tissue infections in adults and children. Incision and drainage (I&D) is the mainstay of therapy for uncomplicated skin abscesses (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 14 2010 and Ann Emerg Med 2010; 56:283), but the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy, if prescribed following I&D, has not been determined.
In the current study, children aged 3 months to 17 years presenting to a single pediatric emergency department with uncomplicated skin abscesses were randomly assigned to either a 3-day or 10-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole following abscess I&D. More children in the 10-day group had evidence of cellulitis and recei…