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In a prospective study of children (age range, 2 months to 19 years) with isolated skin and soft tissue infection, investigators evaluated the test characteristics of clinical examination with and without emergency ultrasound for identifying pus. Abscess was confirmed by drainage in the emergency department, or progression to spontaneous or procedural drainage within 2 days. Treating physicians were blinded to the emergency ultrasound results, although they could order a formal radiology ultrasound to aid in diagnosis.
There were 442 lesions in the clinical-exam–only group and 387 in the exam-plus-emergency-ultrasound group. Among 228 lesions that were considered clinically evident for the presence of pus, the addition of ultrasound did not …