Analysis of factors affecting the diagnostic yield for microbiologic diagnosis from percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the diagnostic yield of microbiologic diagnosis obtained through percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage procedures. We analyzed the influence of diverse clinical, radiological, and pre-procedural factors on the success of microbiologic diagnosis in this context. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage was performed to assess the factors affecting the diagnostic yield for microbiologic diagnosis. Results: A total of 174 patients undergoing percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage was included. The use of antibiotics during the procedure and the spread of the abscess to other organs significantly increased the likelihood of obtaining a positive culture. Specifically, antibiotic use during the procedure raised the risk by up to 3.30-fold (OR = 3.30, 95% CI 1.48-7.65, p = 0.004), while abscess spread to another organ increased the risk by approximately 1.87-fold (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 0.98-3.61, p = 0.057). Additionally, abscesses containing air and abscesses with an air-fluid level were more common in patients with positive culture results. Other factors, such as gender, age, malignancy prevalence, and surgical history, did not significantly impact culture results. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting the diagnostic yield of microbiologic diagnosis from percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage. The findings underscore the importance of considering patient-specific variables and procedural aspects when planning and executing abscess drainage procedures. Further research can build upon these insights to develop evidence-based guidelines for optimizing the diagnostic yield of percutaneous abdominal abscess drainage procedures.