What can cause abscess in groin area

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Graphic content
Graphic content
Images of Abscess (9)
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Graphic content
Who's At Risk?
Signs & Symptoms
Take a picture of your skin condition with Aysa
Self-Care Guidelines
Visit Urgency
How do you treat a groin abscess?
Will a groin abscess go away on its own?
What causes sudden abscess?
How do you treat a groin abscess at home?

Though an abscess is typically a deep infection, pus coming to the surface may be seen.

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The abscess on the shaft of the penis is red, swollen, and tender. The upper edge has a small area of broken skin, which could have been the entry point for the bacteria that caused the abscess.

An abscess usually starts as a tender or painful, red and swollen area.

By pushing on this warm, tender abscess with a finger, there is a sense of fluid (pus) that can be felt within the abscess.

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A painful, swollen red abscess is displayed on the groin-vulvar area.

Due to an injury to the foot, an abscess formed and was then drained by the emergency doctor.

This image displays a confirmed CA-MRSA (community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus) abscess.

This is a typical abscess, which develops as a painful red or violaceous lump. Pushing on this with a finger or blunt instrument causes extreme tenderness.

Abscesses can occur at the site of an injury. In this case, an abscess developed after ear cartilage piercing. Note the pus-filled area at the center.

Images of Abscess (9)

Graphic content

An abscess is an infection characterized by a collection of pus underneath a portion of the skin. Bacteria commonly causing abscesses are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus. These bacteria enter the skin through any cracks or injury to the skin. That area of skin then becomes red, tender, warm, and swollen over days to 1–2 weeks and a fever may develop. Abscesses can sometimes form if minor superficial skin infections are not treated appropriately and in a timely fashion. Most abscesses resolve quickly once appropriately treated.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a strain of “staph” bacteria resistant to antibiotics in the penicillin family, which have been the cornerstone of antibiotic therapy for staph and skin infections for decades. CA-MRSA previously infected only small segments of the population, such as health care workers and persons using injection drugs. However, CA-MRSA is now a common cause of skin infections in the general population. While CA-MRSA bacteria are resistant to penicillin and penicillin-related antibiotics, most staph infections with CA-MRSA can be easily treated by health care practitioners using local skin care and commonly available non-penicillin-family antibiotics. Rarely, CA-MRSA can cause serious skin and soft tissue (deeper) infections. Staph infections typically start as small red bumps or pus-filled bumps, which can rapidly turn into deep, painful sores. If you see a red bump or pus-filled bump on the skin that is worsening or showing any signs of infection (ie, the area becomes increasingly painful, red, or swollen), see your doctor right away. Many patients believe incorrectly that these bumps are the result of a spider bite when they arrive at the doctor’s office. Your doctor may need to test (culture) infected skin for MRSA before starting antibiotics. If you have a skin problem that resembles a CA-MRSA infection or a culture that is positive for MRSA, your doctor may need to provide local skin care and prescribe oral antibiotics. To prevent spread of infection to others, infected wounds, hands, and other exposed body areas should be kept clean and wounds should be covered during therapy.

Factors that predispose individuals to developing an abscess include:

Any skin infection, especially those that are untreated
Diabetes
Obesity
Intravenous drug abuse
Weakened immune system due to underlying illness or medication

Who's At Risk?

Abscesses can occur in anyone and occur anywhere on the body.

You might be able to sense fluid in an abscess when you press on the abscess with a finger.

Signs & Symptoms

A worsening red, tender swelling that arises over a period of 1–2 weeks. The pus underneath the skin is usually not visible. You may have a fever or a general sense of not feeling well.

Take a picture of your skin condition with Aysa

Symptom checkers like Aysa can help narrow down possible skin conditions by analyzing a skin photo.

Self-Care Guidelines

There are no self-care options for abscesses. While waiting to see your doctor, you can try applying a warm compress to the affected area and take ibuprofen to help with the swelling and pain.

Treatments

Your doctor may drain the pus and fluid collection by making a small incision in the skin after it has been numbed. This will drain a majority of the bacteria, helping the body fight the small amount that remains. This fluid may then be sent to a laboratory for testing (culture), but not necessarily. The culture can tell the doctor not only what type of bacterium is causing the infection but also what antibiotics will work best to treat it. This may take as little as 2–3 days. Your doctor may choose to have you start oral antibiotics aimed at treating the most common bacteria that cause abscesses while awaiting these results. However, if the infection is small and it has been drained, your doctor may decide to not treat you with oral antibiotics.

If your symptoms are not improving or it is determined that the bacterium is not one of the common types, your doctor may prescribe different antibiotics. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, it is important to take the entire course as prescribed, even if you are feeling better or the infection appears to be gone after just a few days. If you have been taking antibiotics and the infection itself or the way you are generally feeling have not improved in about 2–3 days, return to see your doctor.

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A worsening red, tender swelling should prompt you to make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible. If the area involves your face, is spreading rapidly, or is in an area that severely limits your functionality, you should seek emergency care.

References

Bolognia, Jean L., ed. Dermatology, p. 1126. New York: Mosby, 2003.

Wolff, Klaus, ed. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed, pp. 874, 1702. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Disease Groups: MRSA

How do you treat a groin abscess?

Abscess drainage is usually a safe and effective way of treating a bacterial infection of the skin. A doctor will numb the area around the abscess, make a small incision, and allow the pus inside to drain. This, and sometimes a course of antibiotics, is really all that's involved.

Will a groin abscess go away on its own?

Skin abscesses are usually not dangerous and disappear on their own with time. In some cases, they may need to be drained or removed by a doctor. If left untreated, abscesses can spark an infection that spreads throughout your body, and can be life-threatening.

What causes sudden abscess?

Most abscesses are caused by an infection with staphylococcal bacteria. When bacteria enter the body, the immune system sends white blood cells to fight the infection. This causes swelling (inflammation) at the site of infection and the death of nearby tissue.