Bites

Patient Population: Adult
Diagnosis Common Pathogens Drug(s) of First Choice Alternative Drug(s) Comments Expected Duration
Bites

Dog/cat:
Streptococci
Pasteurella spp.*
Staphylococci
Oral anaerobes

Human:
Viridans streptococci
Eikenella*
Oral anaerobes

Amoxicillin/
clavulanate

875mg/125mg PO BID

For severe beta-lactam allergy:
Clindamycin 
PLUS EITHER
(Ciprofloxacin 
or
Levofloxacin)

Only 5% of dog bites become infected, whereas 30-50% of cat bites become infected.

Evaluate tetanus vaccine history and administer if indicated

Prophylaxis in high risk patients or in high risk bite only:
High risk patient = post splenectomy, immunocompromised

High risk bite = hand, foot, or face

Prophylaxis: 5 days

Treatment: 10 days

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 59, Issue 2, 15 July 2014, Pages e10–e52, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciu296