27 Do Microbiology Swabs Taken During Incision and Drainage of Acute Perianal Abscess Affect Clinical Management and Future Clinical Course?

Abstract Introduction This study assesses whether microbiology swabs taken during incision and drainage of perianal abscesses have any impact on the post-operative clinical course and management. Method Data from emergency operative theatre lists were interrogated for patients undergoing incision and drainage of perianal abscess in the period March 2019 – March 2020. Each electronic medical record for patients who had perianal abscess surgery was interrogated for age, sex, smoking status, diabetic status, whether microbiology swab was taken for analysis, what organism was grown and any post-operative fistula development. Results 71 patients met inclusion criteria. 55 (77.5%) patients had pus swabs sent at incision and drainage for microbiological analysis. Of the 55 patients swabbed, 20 (36%) had no organism growth, 22 (40%) had anaerobes growth – the most common organism in this study. Of all 55 swabs sent, only 14 (25%) were acknowledged. The presence of smoking (p < 0.05) was statistically significantly associated with development of fistula-in-ano longer term. Conclusions Our data may indicate that microbiology swabs do not influence management of patients with acute perianal abscess. There are discrepancies in whether swabs are taken and acted upon. No organism was associated with fistula development. We would suggest national scale studies to explore our conclusions.