From the Guidelines
Amoxicillin-clavulanate is the best indicated antibiotic for cat bites. This recommendation is based on the high prevalence of anaerobes and P. multocida in cat bites, as noted in the practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections 1. The typical adult dosage is 875 mg/125 mg twice daily for 5-7 days, though duration may extend to 10-14 days for deeper or more severe infections.
Key Considerations
- Cat bites have a higher proportion of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis compared to dog bites, making prompt treatment crucial 1.
- The high infection rate (30-50%) associated with cat bites due to their deep puncture-type wounds necessitates early antibiotic intervention.
- Alternative oral agents, such as doxycycline, penicillin VK plus dicloxacillin, may be considered, but amoxicillin-clavulanate remains the preferred choice due to its broad-spectrum activity against P. multocida and anaerobes.
Treatment Approach
- In addition to antibiotics, proper wound care, including thorough cleaning and possible debridement, is essential for managing cat bites.
- Tetanus prophylaxis should be considered if necessary, based on the patient's vaccination history.
- Patients should be advised to seek medical attention immediately if signs of infection develop, such as increasing pain, redness, swelling, or drainage from the wound.
From the Research
Antibiotic Treatment for Cat Bites
The best antibiotic for treating cat bites is a topic of discussion in several studies.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate is recommended for the outpatient treatment of dog and cat bite wounds 2, 3.
- Pasteurella multocida is the most commonly cultured bacterium from infected cat bite wounds, and it is usually resistant to many typical empiric antibiotics used to treat skin infections 3, 4.
- The high prevalence of P. multocida in the feline oral cavity indicates that prophylactic/empiric antibiotic therapy is still an appropriate response to cat bite wounds 4.
- P. multocida is susceptible to penicillin and its derivatives, including amoxicillin-clavulanate, making them reliable choices for preventing and treating P. multocida infections 4, 5.
Key Findings
- Cat bites have a higher rate of infection compared to dog bites, with 20-80% of cat bites becoming infected 4.
- Pasteurella multocida is isolated in 70% of patients with infected cat bites, and anaerobic pathogens are isolated in 16% of cases concurrently with P. multocida 5.
- The majority of patients with infected cat bites receive penicillin or amoxicillin as antibiotic treatment 5.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate is effective against P. multocida and is recommended for the treatment of cat bite wounds 2, 3, 4.