The incidence of pediatric skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) has tripled in the last decade. This is due in part to the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which accounted for nearly 60% of S. aureus infections in children in 2007.¹ Incision and drainage (I&D) had been considered definitive treatment of skin abscesses, but with rising rates of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA), there was concern that I&D alone was insufficient. This was the first randomized trial in children in the era of CA-MRSA that investigated whether antibiotics after I&D improved outcomes.

To assess whether oral antibiotics after I&D of skin abscesses impact rates of treatment failure and recurrent infection.

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled noninferiority trial in a single pediatric emergency department (ED) from 2006 to 2008.