1. Managing bite wounds. Currently recommended antibiotics for treatment and prophylaxis.
- Author
-
Taplitz RA
- Subjects
- Animals, Bacterial Infections drug therapy, Bacterial Infections prevention & control, Bites, Human complications, Cats, Dogs, Humans, Rabies drug therapy, Rabies prevention & control, Rabies Vaccines administration & dosage, Risk Factors, Tetanus drug therapy, Tetanus prevention & control, Tetanus Toxoid administration & dosage, United States, Wound Infection etiology, Wound Infection surgery, Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Bites and Stings complications, Wound Infection drug therapy, Wound Infection prevention & control
- Abstract
Animal and human bites are common in the United States. Although evidence-based practice guidelines have not been developed, bite wounds warrant an organized, standardized approach to care to help prevent complications. Such an approach involves first eliciting a history of the circumstances surrounding the bite and the patient's medical history. Next, basic bite wound care should be performed, including cleansing and irrigation of the wound. A good understanding of bite wound bacteriology and the situations in which antibiotics may be indicated is important. Finally, rabies and tetanus prophylaxis should be considered and appropriate follow-up care ensured.
- Published
- 2004
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