Why is it okay to have pus in healing abscess?

[BoyMama2000]

I just called my son's surgeon today because although his perianal abscess is almost healed, an area of inflammation occurred that is excreting some pus. I can irrigate it and apply gentle pressure to get it all out but it does return. I am so afraid this will continue when it is healed and create yet another abscess.

His nurse said he is not concerned about a small amount of pus but something is producing it, right?

He told me to clean it, place some antibiotic ointment on it and cover it with gauze.

Does this sound reasonable to you all? I want someone to see it and determine if he needs to go back on antibiotics or if there is something else they can do to kill whatever bacteria created this small infection.

It is on the outside of the wound away from the anus and it does stop draining completely so I don't think it is a fistula.

Any ideas or suggestions? Perhaps I am being over anxious because he has had 4 surgeries and missed a lot of life over the past 4 months and we want this to end!

Thanks.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

It needs to be looked at. I went to the surgeon when I had an abdominal abscess reoccur a month ago and he told me that he had to go in there surgically to get rid of the infection/pus pocket to clean the area up. I am 1 week post op and doing well as I have a visiting RN stopping by each day to pack and clean the wound because it's in a weird spot & I can't see what's going on.

I had 2 abscesses 1 1/2 ago and needed 2 surgeries 6 months apart and my GI surgeon didn't putz around. After the surgery he put me on antibiotics until the wound healed from the inside out.

If your son's abscess is still oozing tomorrow, call and demand that he be seen. You are right to do what you did. If he develops a fever, is in extreme pain, has nausea and or vomiting in the meantime, get him to the ER STAT and have them page the surgeon.

An abscess is nothing to mess with. oh, and ask in the future if your son can have a visiting RN for a month after abscess surgery so she can keep an eye on the wound. She will know if there is something serious brewing and can call the GI STAT to get him in to be seen the same day.

Best of luck. Gutless Wonderwoman...been there, done that, can relate...

 

[BoyMama2000]

Thanks, it looks much better today and I couldn't see any pus! I cleaned it again and put in the antibiotic ointment. I plan to watch it very closely and then return to the surgeon Monday if needed. I also got the name of an adult colo-rectal surgeon from a friend whose husband had an abscess (no Crohns) and had many failed issues until him. We may see if we can get in with him if needed. There is no redness around the wound and it is very nearly closed. Just one little area that looks a bit irritated I hope we stopped the brewing infection and it heals completely.

I have thought many times that I should have asked for a wound care nurse to come or to go and see one. I am a P.T. and my office at the hospital is across from our head wound ostomy nurse. She has guided me and I have no idea how I would have done all of this without her!

It would have been much less stressful to have a nurse look at it every day or even every other day.

Thanks for your advice. According to the nurse I work with, all wound healing can be tricky, wounds near the anus are even more tricky and crohns slows the healing and allows more time for complications!

I will let you know how it turns out. My son is saying that he does not feel any pain which is a great sign because he certainly knows what abscess and cellulitis pain feels like.

Glad you have a good system Gutless Wonderwomen.

Thank you so much for the response.