Carbuncle

(kar'bung-kl) (Latin. Carbunculus - little coal)

A necrotizing infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue composed of a group of furuncles (boils).

A carbuncle is a deep infection of a group of contiguous pilosebaceous follicles with Staphylococcus aureus.

Pathologically a similar process to that seen in a furuncle, carbuncles are much larger and considerably more symptomatic.

They can heal with significant scarring.

Treatment:

• Treatment with an appropriate antistaphylococcal antibiotic and surgical drainage is indicated, as well as treatment of the nasal carrier state, if present, with topical mupirocin to the anterior nares.

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