American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following patients generally does not need antibiotic treatment after incision and drainage of a simple furuncle?

1. Patients demonstrating systemic signs of infection

2. Patients who are immunosuppressed

3. Patients without significant complications

4. Patients with previous MRSA infections

The correct answer is: Patients without significant complications

In the case of incision and drainage of a simple furuncle, antibiotic treatment is not typically required for patients who do not exhibit significant complications. A simple furuncle is generally a localized infection that can be treated effectively with drainage alone. When there are no systemic signs of infection, such as fever or lethargy, and the patient does not have any underlying conditions that could complicate the infection, additional antibiotic therapy is often unnecessary. In contrast, patients with systemic signs of infection would warrant antibiotics due to the potential for a more widespread or severe infection. Similarly, immunosuppressed patients are at higher risk for complications and may benefit from antibiotics to prevent potential systemic spread of bacteria. Those with previous MRSA infections may also require antibiotics as a precaution against resistant organisms, particularly if there are concerns about the presence of MRSA in the current infection. Thus, the choice of not needing antibiotics primarily aligns with patients who present without significant complications associated with their furuncle.