Antibiotic irrigation: A promising unconventional method for facial carbuncle

• Main Authors: Ng, Jia Ji, Gendeh, Hardip, Ong, Hui Yan, Gopalan, Shashi, Karaf, Juani Hayyan Abdul
• Format: Article
• Published: Cureus Inc 2021
• Subjects: RC Internal medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/34842/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Carbuncle is conventionally treated with combinations of intravenous antibiotics and surgical intervention; be it saucerization or incision and drainage. Cosmesis outcome might be unfavorable following surgical intervention, especially when the facial region is involved. Skin grafting surgery may even be needed as a second-stage procedure for a larger wound. We reported a series of three facial carbuncles treated successfully with a new improvised method. Our method includes performing a stab incision prior to draining of pus, coupled with minimal wound debridement, followed by regular irrigation of the wound with antibiotics containing solution. Based on the three cases reported in this article, we conclude that this method is more superior as there is more skin preservation, better patient tolerance, shorter hospital stays, and favorable cosmesis outcome.