Antibiotics to prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether prophylactic antibiotics prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds.


METHODS
Meta-analysis of published studies.


METHODS
A literature search was performed to identify published, randomized trials of prophylactic antibiotics for dog bite wounds. The relative risk for infection in treated patients compared with controls was used as the measure of effect, and a summary relative risk was calculated.


RESULTS
Eight randomized trials were identified. The estimated cumulative incidence of infection in controls was 16%. The relative risk for infection in patients given antibiotics compared with controls was 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.38 to 0.82). About 14 patients must be treated to prevent one infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic antibiotics reduce the incidence of infection in patients with dog bite wounds. The full costs and benefits of antibiotics in this situation are not known. It may be reasonable to limit prophylactic antibiotics to patients with wounds that are at high risk for infection.
Cummings
P
P
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle.
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents