Abscesses are infected walled-off fluid collections of pus and bacteria and represent a ubiquitous global healthcare problem. They are common sequelae of surgery, infections, or disease, and can affect any part of the body. Current standard of care includes hospitalization, antibiotics, and drainage of the abscess with a catheter. The bacteria in pus are susceptible mechanical damage with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), which generates localized cavitation and is a potential noninvasive means to treat abscesses. The significance of this proposal is that treatment of abscesses using ultrasound therapy under ultrasound guidance is better for the patient because it is minimally- or non-invasive, has less procedural pain, doesn’t require that the patient live for up to several weeks with a drain inserted, requires no catheter management, there is no potential tract for new infections, and no need for CT/fluoro imaging radiation. Furthermore, ultrasound treatment will reduce the need for antibiotics, and thus reduce the potential for drug resistant, life-threatening microbes.

Project Narrative Relevance to public health: The development of a focused ultrasound treatment for abscesses will improve patients’ lives because it is minimally or noninvasive, has less procedural pain, can be performed in an out-patient setting, and is fast and convenient. Physicians benefit because it minimizes risk of non-targeted injury and complications, and there is minimal additional training to use the device.