Final answer:
The correct treatment for a rat bite is typically standard wound care, plus oral amoxicillin clavulanate, given the potential for bacterial infection. Rabies treatment is usually reserved for higher risk exposures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct treatment for a rat bite on a 52-year-old woman would typically include standard wound care with the addition of oral amoxicillin clavulanate. Rat bites can lead to rat-bite fever, a zoonotic infection caused by either Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minor. While rabies is a serious concern with animal bites, the incidence of rabies from a rat bite is extremely low, especially in areas with routine vaccination of domestic animals. Rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine are used when there is a significant risk of rabies, and treatment must begin promptly due to the potential for the virus to travel to the central nervous system. However, in this case, it appears more appropriate to treat for possible bacterial infection resulting from the rat bite with oral amoxicillin clavulanate.