What should be done for a patient with redness around an I and D site during a follow-up visit?

Monitoring the patient with redness around an incision and drainage (I&D) site is the most appropriate initial approach. Post-procedural redness can often be a normal part of the healing process, especially if it is not accompanied by other symptoms like increased pain, swelling, or discharge, or if the redness does not appear to be worsening. By continuing to monitor the site, the clinician can watch for any signs of infection or complications that may develop over time.

Should the redness persist, change in character, or be accompanied by other concerning symptoms, further interventions could be warranted, such as starting an antibiotic treatment or considering other options. However, immediate surgical intervention is typically reserved for more severe cases, such as abscess formation or significant complications, and applying a topical steroid may not be appropriate as it could impair healing or exacerbate an underlying infection. Thus, the decision to monitor allows for a careful assessment without jumping to conclusions, leading to potentially unnecessary treatments.