What it means
A painful, swollen red lump made up of several boils (furuncles) linked together, often on the back of the neck, the back or the thighs. It usually drains pus through several openings and may come with fever. The cause is most often Staphylococcus aureusstaf-uh-loh-KOK-us AW-ree-usA common round bacterium that often lives on the skin and in the nose and can cause infection.Full entry , including MRSA. Diabetes and a weak immune system raise the risk.
For the nurse
Teach the client not to squeeze it, to apply warm compresses, to wash hands and keep the area covered, and not to share towels or razors. It may need to be drained by a provider.
At a glance
| Spanish | ántrax estafilocócico |
|---|---|
| Also written | carbuncles |
Related terms
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a staph bacterium that many common antibiotics cannot kill.
abscess
A closed pocket of pus in tissue, walled off by the body.
Staphylococcus aureus
A common round bacterium that often lives on the skin and in the nose and can cause infection.