Table 1.

Past-3-month abscess treatment characteristics among people who inject drugs (PWID).

	n (%)
	N=112
Self-treated last abscess	89 (79)
How last abscess was self-treated:
Pressed pus out	72 (81)
Hot compress	70 (79)
Hydrogen Peroxide	60 (67)
Antibiotic ointment	56 (63)
Oral antibiotics	47 (53)
Drained with a syringe	35 (39)
Drained with a knife	32 (36)
Soaked/applied salt water	30 (34)
Aloe or other ointment	29 (33)
Cold compress	16 (18)
Put potato on it	4 (4)
Self-treated abscess healed	81 (91)
Got medical treatment for last abscess	32 (29)
Location of medical treatment for last abscess:
Emergency department	20 (63)
Inpatient hospital	7 (22)
Syringe service program (SSP)	6 (19)
Health clinic	3 (9)
Private physician’s office	2 (6)