Draining Of Abscesses

QUESTION: This discussion has been going on for years, for I am sure that I
read somewhere that you should never open an abscess with a needle, for fear
of starting an infection. My husband insists that all such things must be
opened as soon as they are ripe, to prevent the spread of the poisons through
the body. Would you please clear this up once and for all?
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ANSWER: Your husband gets the nod on this one, provided he restricts his
activity to abscesses. Blisters are another thing however, and I believe your
beliefs stem from the warning not to open blisters caused by friction or
prolonged activity. The fluid inside a blister is sterile, and the tissue
beneath the liquid pad formed by the blister is damaged by the trauma. The
blister protects the area from further damage and should not be drained, but
covered by a thick bandage to add another layer of protection to the injury.
Abscesses are another story. They are collections of pus beneath the skin,
formed by collection of white cells assembled to fight an invading bacterial
infection. Abscesses begin as cellulitis, an inflammation within the solid
tissue, noted by the redness, heat, swelling and tenderness that accompany the
inflammation. As the tissue dies, a space is created which becomes filled
with tissue fluids, white cells, bacteria and parts of the destroyed cells,
forming pus, and creating the abscess. Abscesses can grow, destroying
adjacent tissue, and eroding blood vessels. When the bacteria get into the
blood stream (septicemia), the infection may spread to all parts of the body.
By incising an abscess the contents may be drained away, reducing the chances
of spreading infection, and allowing the body's own power to repair itself to
begin to heal the wound.