ALL ABOUT ABSCESSES
What is
an abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of pus. Pus means you have an infection.
Pus is made of dead tissue, germs (bacteria), and white blood cells.
The white blood cells rally around to kill the germs. Sometimes,
abscesses will burst and drain, a way the body has of getting rid
of the infection.
What causes
an abscess?
An abscess can start anywhere in the body where bacteria infect
tissue. Drug shooters often get abscesses on their arms or legs
mostly (but not always) at injection sites. You are more
likely to damage tissue and develop an abscess when you "skin
pop," "muscle it," or miss your vein. Both the cut
and the drug itself can cause infection and damage tissue. You can
even get an abscess AFTER you stop injecting.
Where
do the germs come from?
Germs are invisible without a microscope. They are on most surfaces,
including skin, and on any used item such as a rig, cooker, cotton,
or tourniquet. Germs are on your skin even if you think youre
clean. All of these germs can get into your body.
What signs
should I look for?
A hard, reddish, tender lump. It will usually appear at the
injection site, but it can also pop up in other places. The lump
might feel warmer than the skin around it. It might even
feel hot. It usually hurts. It might look pink and puffy. If it
gets bigger, the infection is getting worse. As the infection spreads,
you might see red streaks spreading out and away from the abscess.
The infection might make you feel tired or cause fever or chills.
You might have chest pains if the infection goes to your heart or
lungs.
What
should I do if I get an abscess?
It depends on how bad it is. Here are some guidelines: |
Treat
at HOME with a HOT SOAK if:
--You dont have any red streaks or hot puffy skin around
it. |
Go
to a CLINIC if:
--It has not improved after 5 to 7 days.
--The lump gets bigger or more painful.
--You see red streaks spreading out from the lump.
--The lump is hot, puffy, and pink, or if you get a fever. |
Go
to the EMERGENCY ROOM if:
--You have chest pains.
--You have chills or a high fever.
--The infection looks like it is spreading really fast. |
About hot
soaking
Soaking helps draw out the infection. It helps the abscess come
to a head and drain.
How do
I hot soak?
- Soak the
abscess in a tub of plain hot water. This works well if
the abscess is on your hand or lower arm.
- Better yet,
soak it in hot water and Epsom Salts.
- Make sure
the water is hot, but not so hot that it burns your skin.
- Hold a hot,
wet wash cloth over the abscess if the abscess is in a spot you
cant easily put under water.
- Soak at least
3 or 4 times a day, 10 to 15 minutes each time.
If you have
a bad infection, you may need to take antibiotics. If your doctor
prescribes antibiotics, be sure to finish them ALL - even
if you feel better before theyre used up. If you dont
take the whole course of antibiotics, or if you dont take
them correctly, the germs they are supposed to treat can develop
resistance. Resistant bacteria make antibiotics less useful against
future infections. If pus is trapped under the skin, a health provider
may need to open the wound to drain the pus. Antibiotics alone may
not treat trapped pus.
How can
I reduce my risk for abscesses?
- Before you
shoot, WASH your skin and hands with HOT SOAPY WATER. Hot water
and vigorous rubbing make the veins bigger, too.
- Use a BRAND
NEW, STERILE RIG every time you inject or divide drugs. If you
cant get a new rig, use one that is well-rinsed, bleached
for at least 30 seconds, then rinsed again with fresh, clean water.
- Use clean
cottons, clean cookers and fresh, clean water every time.
- Clean the
injection site properly with alcohol wipes.
- Dont
lick the needle before you inject. You carry a lot of bacteria
in your mouth that can cause infections under your skin.
- Choose good
veins. Keep your veins big and fat by drinking lots of water.
It is harder to miss when you have big veins. Sometimes a miss
will get infected and turn into an abscess.
- Use a tourniquet.
This increases blood pressure in the veins and makes skinnier
veins bigger around, easier to see, and easier to hit.
- Slow down.
Relax. Take a deep breath to help keep your hand steady so you
dont miss. Shaky hands from a 5-day speed run or from being
dope sick can cause you to miss.
- Avoid shooting
into your hands and especially avoid feet, and legs.
Where do
I shoot? Vein? Muscle? Skin? Whats safer?
All three have risks. All three put you at risk for infections like
HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Muscling and skin popping are more likely
to cause abscesses and skin infections. If treated early, these
infections usually clear up in a short period of time. Shooting
into a vein is more likely to cause longer-term problems like endocarditis.
Shooting into a vein is also more likely to cause an overdose. Abscesses
hurt, and they can cause ugly disfigurement, but theyre rarely
fatal. Endocarditis and overdose, on the other hand, are more likely
to result in death.
WARNINGS!!! |
--DO
NOT shoot into or near an abscess. |
--DO
NOT squeeze or cut into an abscess you could push
germs into your bloodstream. This could "seed" your
heart lining with bacteria that can cause an infection to grow
in your heart. This is called endocarditis, and its a
life-threatening condition. |
--People
with weak immune systems are more likely to develop abscesses.
If you have a weak immune system, you need to be even more careful. |
Ive
got no money. Where do I go for help?
Get free or low-cost treatment at the Needle Exchange Medical Clinic
or a community health clinic. For an emergency, go to a medical
center. See the resource list
on this site for Seattle area numbers.
The
Medical Clinic at the downtown Needle Exchange is open 1:30
to 4:30 Monday though Friday. Walk-ins are always welcome! |
Use alcohol
wipes before every injection!
- Alcohol wipes
help to remove dirt and germs from your skin.
- This makes
an "antiseptic field" on your arm.
- Alcohol wipes
reduce your changes for "tracks" (scar tissue), abscesses
(pus pockets), and other infections.
- They stimulate
the skin surface and make it shine.
- Hard-to-find
veins are easier to see and hit, especially if you use side lighting!
Wash
your hands and skin!
Use
plenty of hot, soapy water!
Follow
up with alcohol pads!
|
How do
I use alcohol pads?
Step one:
Take an alcohol pad and wipe back and forth where
you plan to inject. This will probably be your arm. Press kind of
hard this first time. Use as many pads as you need to get the dirt
off of your skin. But dont stop here!
Step two:
Now grab a new pad and press down over the spot where youre
going to inject. This time, wipe in a circle. Start with small
circles and make bigger circles as you go around. This pushes
any leftover dirt and bacteria on your skin outward from
the spot where youre going to shoot.
Note:
If you bleed after you shoot, press down with dry cotton or a band-aid
to stop the flow. Dont use an alcohol pad; alcohol slows down
clotting.
Abscess
& Wound Care
|
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Country
Doctor Community Clinic
(serves Capitol Hill)
|
(206)
299-1600 |
45th
Street Clinic
(serves mostly U-District & Wallingford)
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(206) 633-3350 |
Needle
Exchange Medical Clinic
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(206)
205-7837 |
Pike
Market Medical Clinic
(serves mostly downtown)
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(206) 728-4143 |
Pioneer
Square Clinic
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(206)
521-1750 |
Emergency
Care
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Harborview
Medical Center
Emergency
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(206) 731-3074 |
Urgent
Care (non-emergency)
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(206)
731-5867 |
Providence
Seattle Medical Center
Emergency
|
(206) 320-2111 |
Evergreen
Hospital Medical Center
Emergency
|
(425)
899-1700 |
Overlake
Hospital Medical Center
Emergency
|
(425) 688-5200 |
Valley
Medical Center Emergency
|
(425)
251-5185 |
University
of WA Medical Center
|
(206) 598-4000 |
HIV
& STD Info & Testing
|
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HIV/STD
Hotline
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(206) 205-7837(STDS)
1-800-678-1595
TTY(206) 296-4843 |
Drug
Treatment & Support
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Alcohol/Drug
24 Hour Helpline
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(206)
722-3700 |
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Clinic
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(206) 461-3222 |
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461-3200 |
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Needle Exchange
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