Prophylactic oxacillin in dog bite wounds.

This prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to determine the value of prophylactic oxacillin in dog bites. Adult patients with uninfected full-thickness wounds presenting within 24 hours of injury were considered. Management consisted of cleansing, irrigation, debridement, and closure as indicated; no topical antibiotics were applied. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oxacillin 500 mg QID x 5 days or identically appearing placebo. Home wound care was standardized an patients were observed at least every 2 days. Clinical assessment of infection was confirmed microbiologically. Sixty-three patients were admitted and 46 completed the study. Oxacillin (22) and placebo (24) groups were identical in sex, age, number of wounds per patient, wound location and type, number of open and closed wounds, delay to presentation, length of follow-up observation, medication compliance, and adequacy of patient wound care. Two infections of the hand occurred in patients receiving oxacillin; no infections were seen among placebo-treated patients (P = NS). Prophylactic oxacillin was not associated with improved outcome. We do not advise the use of prophylactic antibiotics in dog bite injuries treated within 24 hours of accident.

[1]  K. Kizer.  Epidemiologic and clinical aspects of animal bite injuries. , 1979, JACEP.

[2]  W. E. Bailie,et al.  Aerobic bacterial flora of oral and nasal fluids of canines with reference to bacteria associated with bites , 1978, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[3]  G. R. Carter,et al.  Gingival flora of the dog with special reference to bacteria associated with bites , 1976, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[4]  E. Goldstein,et al.  Dog bite wounds and infection: a prospective clinical study. , 1980, Annals of emergency medicine.

[5]  R. Aghababian,et al.  Mammalian bite wounds. , 1980, Annals of emergency medicine.

[6]  M. Callaham.  Prophylactic antibiotics in common dog bite wounds: a controlled study. , 1980, Annals of emergency medicine.

[7]  Maetz Hm.  Animal bites, a public health problem in Jefferson County, Alabama. , 1979 .

[8]  H. Thomson,et al.  Small animal bites: the role of primary closure. , 1973, The Journal of trauma.

[9]  Payne Jf,et al.  Treatment of dog-bite wounds. , 1969 .

[10]  R. M. Moore,et al.  Surveillance of animal-bite cases in the United States, 1971-1972. , 1977, Archives of environmental health.

[11]  M. Lee,et al.  Dog-bites and Local Infection with Pasteurella Septica , 1960, British medical journal.

[12]  B. Paton.  Bites--human, dog, spider and snake. , 1963, Surgical Clinics of North America.

[13]  R. C. Schultz,et al.  THE TREATMENT OF DOG BITE INJURIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE FACE , 1972, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[14]  M. Callaham.  Treatment of common dog bites: infection risk factors. , 1978, JACEP.

[15]  C. Ray,et al.  Pasteurella multocida in dog and cat bite infections. , 1969, Pediatrics.

[16]  E. Goldstein,et al.  Bacteriology of human and animal bite wounds , 1978, Journal of clinical microbiology.