Is it normal for a cat bite wound to be red and warm without drainage or pus 24 hours after the incident, with no signs of fever or chills?

Management of Cat Bite Wound with Redness and Warmth

Your current treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate 875mg is appropriate for a cat bite wound showing redness and warmth without drainage, pus, fever, or chills. 1, 2

Clinical Assessment of Your Cat Bite

• Cat bites have a high infection risk with a polymicrobial profile, with Pasteurella multocida present in 75% of cases, often causing ascending lymphangitis 2
• Your symptoms of redness and warmth extending 5 inches from the bite center without fever, chills, or drainage represent a normal inflammatory response in the first 24-48 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy 1, 2
• The absence of purulent drainage, fever, and systemic symptoms suggests your infection is being adequately treated 1

Antibiotic Treatment

• Amoxicillin-clavulanate 875/125mg twice daily is the first-line therapy recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America for cat bite wounds 1
• This combination is effective against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria commonly found in cat bites, including Pasteurella multocida 1, 2
• Your prompt initiation of antibiotics (within 14.5 hours of the bite) is appropriate and helps prevent progression of infection 1
• A full course of 7-10 days of antibiotics is typically recommended for cat bite wounds 2

Wound Care Recommendations

• Continue cleaning the wound with sterile normal saline and keep it covered 1
• Elevate the affected forearm to reduce swelling and accelerate healing 1
• Monitor the wound for:
  • Increasing redness beyond the current 5-inch area 1
  • Development of purulent drainage 1
  • Onset of fever or chills 1
  • Increasing pain disproportionate to the wound appearance (which could suggest deeper infection) 1

When to Seek Further Medical Attention

• If redness continues to spread despite 48 hours of antibiotic therapy 1, 2
• If you develop fever, chills, or other systemic symptoms 1
• If purulent drainage develops from the wound 1
• If you experience increasing pain, especially near joints or bones 1
• If you develop swelling that significantly limits movement 1

Potential Complications to Watch For

• Cat bites on the forearm can potentially affect tendons, joints, or bones if the bite was deep 1
• Complications such as septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or tendonitis may require extended antibiotic courses (4-6 weeks) 1, 2
• Hand and forearm wounds are often more serious than wounds to fleshy parts of the body and require careful monitoring 1

Your current treatment approach with prompt wound cleaning, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and monitoring is aligned with clinical guidelines for managing cat bite wounds 1, 2.