Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam Prep 2025 – Complete Practice Resource

A furuncle, commonly known as a boil, is a painful, pus-filled bump that forms under the skin due to an infection of a hair follicle, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The primary treatment for a furuncle involves addressing the drainage of the pus and relieving the pressure in the affected area.

Incision and drainage is the most appropriate treatment because it allows for the release of pus, which alleviates symptoms such as pain and swelling, and helps the body heal more effectively by removing the source of infection. Following drainage, antibiotics may be considered if the infection is severe or if the patient is immunocompromised, but the initial focus is on physical intervention.

The other treatment options are less appropriate in this case. Oral antifungals are used for fungal infections, which are not relevant to a bacterial infection like a furuncle. An antibiotic cream may help in less severe skin infections or prevent infection in minor wounds but is not sufficient for a furuncle that usually requires more invasive measures. Topical steroids are generally used to reduce inflammation and are contraindicated in the presence of an active infection as they could exacerbate the issue by suppressing local immune responses. Thus, incision and drainage stands out as the