Many of us have had the unpleasant experience of developing a skin abscess. The approach to treating this infection is variable and can include the use of antibiotics. It would seem to make sense because abscesses are usually caused by bacteria.

In a study published in the April 2007 edition of the Annals of Emergency Medicine, physicians from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital wanted to determine if there was evidence to support antibiotic use in conjunction with draining the abscess.

• Dr. Worth Everett, MD, FACEP Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine and clinical researcher in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania and coauthor of the study.