title: A comparative double blind study of amoxycillin/clavulanate vs placebo in the prevention of infection after animal bites.
abstract: The value of prophylactic antibiotics in the treatment of animal bites is uncertain. A prospective double blind stratified trial was performed comparing a broad spectrum antibiotic amoxycillin/clavulanate with placebo in full thickness animal bite wounds in a series of 185 consecutive patients. In wounds less than 9 h old, no significant benefit was found with the antibiotic. In older wounds, presenting 9-24 h after injury, the infection rate was reduced significantly (P = 0.023), although the numbers were small. We recommend the use of such an antibiotic on wounds 9-24 h old and query its use in more recent injuries, unless tendons or joints are likely to be involved.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Middlesbrough General Hospital, England.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Brakenbury
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muwanga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin