Table 1 Demographic, medical history and clinical treatment of gold mine workers who presented with cutaneous abscesses at the on-site occupational health clinic from January through to September 2017, n = 47
Characteristic | Number of symptomatic mine workers (n/Na) | % |
|---|---|---|
Residence | ||
 Mine hostel | 18/45 | 40 |
 Living out | 27/45 | 60 |
Work type | ||
 Stoping | 24/46 | 52 |
 Roving underground | 12/46 | 26 |
 Development | 5/46 | 11 |
 Shaft and Services | 5/46 | 11 |
Medical history | ||
 Diabetes mellitus | 2/45 | 4 |
 Tuberculosis | 2/46 | 4 |
 HIV infection | 18/43 | 42 |
 Skin conditions | 2/27 | 7 |
 History of smoking | 21/45 | 47 |
 History of alcohol consumption | 21/46 | 46 |
 Other medical conditions | 3/46 | 7 |
Recurrence | ||
 New | 47/130 | 36 |
 Recurrent | 83/130 | 64 |
Site of cutaneous abscess | ||
 Lower limbs | 41/130 | 31 |
 Upper limbs | 31/130 | 24 |
 Hands | 24/130 | 18 |
 Face | 16/130 | 12 |
 Buttocks and perianal | 7/130 | 5 |
 Trunk and back | 6/130 | 5 |
 Groin | 2/130 | 2 |
 Other | 2/130 | 2 |
 Head and neck | 1/130 | 1 |
Treatment | ||
 Incision and drainage | 62/119 | 52 |
 Oral antibioticsb | 101/122 | 83 |
  Metronidazole | 79/122 | 65 |
  Amoxicillin/ampicillin | 50/122 | 41 |
  Cloxacillin | 46/122 | 38 |
  Clindamycin | 14/122 | 12 |
  Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid | 2/122 | 2 |
  Doxycycline | 2/122 | 2 |
 Topical antibiotics | 48/120 | 40 |
 Dressings | 78/121 | 65 |
Resolved (yes) | 46/47 | 98 |