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Medications

If antibiotics are prescribed, it is important to recognize that they are not used to treat an infection. They are used to try to prevent infection.

• Bites that generally warrant antibiotics are these:
  
  
  • Cat bites with a deep puncture
    
    
  • A wound that required tissue removal (debridement)
    
    
  • A heavily contaminated wound
    
    
  • Bites in elderly
    
    
  • Bites in people with underlying chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes)
  
  
• Those bites to areas with good blood supply (the face) generally do not require antibiotics.
  
  
• The most common antibiotics prescribed are amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) or a combination of 2 medications, amoxicillin and cephalexin (Keflex). Other antibiotics used include erythromycin, co-trimoxazole (Bactrim), and azithromycin (Zithromax).
  
  
• If used in the initial period, a 5-day course of antibiotics is generally adequate, although some recommend only 3 days and some 7 days. These rules change if you are actively treating an infection, or if the bite was particularly dirty or contaminated.

Most bite wounds are treated with over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). Occasionally, the doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication for the short-term control of pain from the bite.