Prophylactic oxacillin in dog bite wounds

✍ Scribed by Robert M. Elenbaas; W. Kendall McNabney; William A. Robinson

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 419 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1097-6760
• DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(82)80093-0

✦ Synopsis

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 and 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 ( ) 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.