loop drainage technique, which may reduce pain and scarring at the site of infection. Studies suggest that loop drainage is associated with a lower failure rate than conventional therapy, although it is not yet a widely used procedure.[10] Typically I&D is well tolerated with pain being the most common complication. Inadequately drained abscesses can lead to the extension of the infection into adjacent tissues and worsening of clinical status. As stated, incision and drainage is a common procedure in a variety of care settings. It is the standard of treatment for subcutaneous abscesses, with or without adjunctive antibiotic therapy. The successful treatment of skin abscesses is not limited to clinician proficiency in performing incision and drainage. Often patients will understandably have questions regarding disease recurrence and prevention, and there is a significant amount of research to address these topics. Although bacterial etiology was not discussed in this article, skin and soft tissue infections are many times caused by Staphylococcus aureus, with the prevalence of MRSA increasing. IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) guidelines on the management of skin and soft tissue infections due to MRSA discuss measures to prevent recurrence. These guidelines are derived from important research performed by not only physicians but other integral members of the healthcare team as well. There have been multiple publications by nursing on the subject of recurrence prevention.[11][12] The results of these studies support IDSA guidelines of proper hand hygiene and post-drainage MRSA decolonization with mupirocin. It is important to recognize that standards of care are the result of interprofessional efforts. Abscesses and Boils An abscess is a painful infection that can drive many people to the emergency room. They result when oil-producing or sweat glands are obstructed, and bacteria are trapped. This causes an infection and inflammation along with pain and redness.1 Abscesses can form anywhere on the body. Commonly, they are found in the armpits, in the pubic region, at the base of the spine, around a tooth, or around a hair follicle (in which case the abscess is known as a boil). When an abscess forms, the pain and inflammation can make you want to poke and prod it to try to clear it up on your own. However, healthcare providers strongly caution against this, as it often makes the infection worse and can cause lasting complications such as bloodstream infections (sepsis) and scarring. An abscess will most often not heal on its own or even with antibiotics, and the pus usually needs to be drained to promote healing. An I&D, usually performed right in your healthcare provider's office, can achieve this safely and comfortably. What an I&D Involves Using a local anesthetic (such as lidocaine) to numb the area around the abscess so you don't feel pain, a healthcare provider then inserts a scalpel or needle into the skin over the pus and the pus is drained. Some abscesses have more than one pocket of pus that must be ruptured to release all of the infected material. After the pus has drained, the wound will be cleaned and rinsed with saline solution. If it is not too large or deep, the wound may be packed with gauze bandaging for 24 to 48 hours to absorb any pus or discharge that continues to drain. If an abscess is particularly large or deep, a drain may be placed in the cleaned wound to keep it open and allow it to continue draining as it heals.1 The whole procedure usually takes less than an hour, and very few people experience complications. People who smoke or have a condition that weakens the immune system are more likely to experience complications. After the I&D is completed and you are sent home, you should carefully follow your healthcare provider's directions about changing bandages and cleaning the wound. You may also be given antibiotics and told to take pain medicine as needed. If you notice any signs of infection, such as worsening pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or fever, you should call your healthcare provider immediately. Recurrent Abscesses Oftentimes an abscess is a one-time thing which can be resolved with an I&D. For some people, a