Animal Bites (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
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)
- Cat bites with a deep puncture
- 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.
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Animal Bites »
Because many animal bites are never reported, determining the exact incidence of animal bite wounds in the United States, let alone the world, is difficult.
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