Sözener U, Gedik E, Kessaf Aslar A et al. Dis Colon Rectum 2011;54:923–9.
Anorectal abscesses are usually treated with incision and drainage. Fistula formation is the key concern following this procedure, occurring in up to 80% of cases. It has been hypothesized that insufficient abscess drainage leads to chronic infection and ultimately results in fistula formation. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of antibiotic treatment on fistula formation after incision and drainage of anorectal abscesses. It was found that antibiotic treatment following the drainage of an anorectal abscess had no protective effect on the risk of fistula formation, and was in fact associated with an increased risk for this complication.
The risk of fistula formation is a major concern after incision and drainage of an anorectal abscess and there are few studies available to direct best-care strategies. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study conducted at three teaching hospitals in Turkey, the objective was to determine the impact of antibiotic treatment on fistula formation after incision and drainage of anorectal abscesses.