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Furuncle

A furuncle, or boil, is an acute perifollicular staphylococcal abscess of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Lesions appear as an indurated, dull, red nodule with a central purulent core, usually beginning around a hair follicle or a sebaceous gland. Furuncles occur most commonly on the nape, face, buttocks, thighs, perineum, breast.

The most common cause of furuncles is coagulase-positive S aureus. Cultures should be obtained from all suppurative lesions.

Treatment of Furuncles

Warm compresses and cleansing.

Dicloxacillin (Pathocil) 500 mg PO qid .

Manipulation and surgical incision of early lesions should be avoided, because these maneuvers may cause local or systemic extension. However, when the lesions begin to suppurate and become fluctuant, drainage may be accomplished.

Draining lesions should be covered with antibiotics and loose dressings.