What happens after an abscess is drained
An abscess is a pocket of pus under the skin. The usual treatment is a procedure to open and drain it. What is left is an open cavity, and abscess wound care after drainage is the follow-up that helps that cavity heal.
Unlike a cut, a drained abscess is usually not stitched shut. It is left open so remaining fluid can escape and the space can fill in with new tissue from the bottom up. That is expected.
Gateway arranges care for this kind of wound across the region. See wound care in St. Louis for how visits at home and in facilities are set up.
Why some drained wounds are packed
If the skin at the surface closes before the deeper space has filled in, fluid can be trapped and the abscess can form again. To prevent that, the clinician may place a strip of gauze or another material in the cavity, which is called packing, or leave a small drain.
Whether to pack depends on the size, depth and location of the cavity. What goes in the wound, how often it is changed and when it stops are all part of the treating clinician’s orders.
Packing changes follow the treating clinician’s orders
Packing changes may be done by a clinician at a visit, by a home health nurse, or by you or a family member after hands-on teaching. Gateway does not give packing instructions. We arrange the visits and supplies and help the orders reach the people doing the changes.
Before you leave the place where the abscess was drained, or at your first follow-up, ask:
- Is there packing in the wound now, and how many pieces?
- Who will change it, how often and with what material?
- What should I do if the packing falls out or the dressing gets wet?
- May I shower or bathe with the wound, and should it be covered?
- What can be done about pain during changes?
- When and where is my recheck?
When more than one piece of packing is used, the pieces are counted going in and coming out, so nothing is left behind. Our guide to managing wound dressing changes at home covers setup and supplies. When an agency is involved, Gateway can coordinate wound care alongside home health.
What the treating clinician checks at follow-up
At follow-up, the treating clinician usually looks at:
- Whether the cavity is getting shallower and smaller
- Any tunneling or undermining, meaning spaces that extend under the skin beyond the visible opening
- The amount, color and smell of drainage
- Redness, warmth, firmness or swelling around the wound
- Results of any culture taken when the abscess was drained
- Whether packing is still needed
The clinician then updates the orders, and Gateway arranges the dressing supplies and changes that follow.
Changes to report and when to call 911
Tell the treating clinician promptly about:
- Redness spreading outward, or red streaks
- Fever or chills
- Increasing pain or swelling, or a firm lump returning
- Thick pus, heavier drainage or a new foul odor
- Packing you cannot find or that will not come out
- An opening that seals over while the area beneath is still swollen and sore
Call 911 for confusion, fainting, trouble breathing, bleeding that will not stop, or high fever with rapidly spreading redness. Gateway is not an emergency service.
When abscesses keep coming back
A single abscess can happen to anyone. Repeated ones deserve a closer look by your primary care clinician, a surgeon or a dermatologist. Possible contributors include diabetes, bacteria that resist common antibiotics, and skin conditions that cause recurring lumps in the armpits, groin or buttocks.
An abscess at the top of the buttock crease may be related to pilonidal disease, which is explained on our pilonidal wounds page. Ask the clinician whether further testing makes sense and whether people in your household should take any precautions.
How Gateway arranges abscess follow-up in Greater St. Louis
Gateway connects patients across Greater St. Louis and the Metro East with partner clinicians who see people at home, in skilled nursing and assisted living, and in other settings. We request the procedure note and any culture results, schedule visits, arrange the supplies the clinician orders and keep your primary care clinician or surgeon updated.
Call 314-325-0126 with or without a referral, or request care online with a name and phone number. Visit availability is confirmed by location and care setting, so keep following the instructions from the clinician who drained the abscess while follow-up is arranged. Coverage depends on the treating provider, your plan and the care needed.
Common questions
Does every drained abscess need packing?
No. Clinicians often pack larger or deeper cavities and may leave smaller ones unpacked. What matters is that you know which applies to your wound. If you were sent home without clear instructions, call the place that drained the abscess and ask whether anything is in the wound and what should happen next.
What if the packing falls out before my next visit?
Follow the instructions you were given for that situation. If you were not given any, cover the wound with a clean, dry dressing and call the clinician who is managing the packing. Do not try to push it back in or repack the wound yourself unless you have been taught to and told to.
Is it normal for a drained abscess to keep draining?
Some drainage is expected, and it is one reason the wound is left open. It is often bloody or cloudy at first and should lessen over time. Report drainage that increases, turns thick or foul-smelling, or comes with more pain, redness or fever. Our guide on what wound drainage means describes the types.
Do I need antibiotics after an abscess is drained?
Not always. For some abscesses, drainage is the main treatment. Clinicians add antibiotics based on the size and location of the abscess, the surrounding skin, your other health conditions and culture results. If you were prescribed an antibiotic, take it as directed and ask the prescriber before making any change.
Related pages
General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.