Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bite wound infections of the lower extremity.
- Journal:
- Clinics in podiatric medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 1990
- Authors:
- Myers, R A et al.
- Affiliation:
- VA Medical Center
Plain-English summary
Animal bite wounds on the legs are at a high risk for getting infected, especially in pets that already have health issues. It's important to clean the wound thoroughly and remove any dead tissue, as this is more effective at preventing infection than just giving antibiotics as a precaution. If the wound is already infected, it needs to be treated aggressively with antibiotics to clear the infection. A specific type of antibiotic that includes clavulanic acid or sulbactam is recommended until the vet gets test results back. Additionally, it's a good idea to check if your pet needs a tetanus shot, and rabies treatment may be necessary in some cases.
Abstract
Animal bite wounds of the lower extremity are considered high-risk wounds for infection, especially in the medically compromised individual. Management should be aggressive. Copious irrigation and debridement of the wound clearly proves to be of greater value in the prevention of infection than the indiscriminate use of so-called "prophylactic" antibiotic agents. Frankly infected wounds must also be managed aggressively, incorporating the use of antibiotics to eradicate the infection. Empiric use of an agent containing clavulanic acid or sulbactam is suggested until results are obtained from the bacterial culture and sensitivity. Tetanus prophylaxis should be considered for every bite wound, whereas rabies prophylaxis is warranted in selected cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1976037/