Question

A patient comes to the clinic following a bite from a cat on his chin. All of the following are appropriate treatment options except:

a. Irrigate with sterile saline
b. Suture cleaned wound
c. Prescribe Keflex
d. Tetanus prophylaxi

Answer 1

Suturing a cleaned cat bite wound is the incorrect treatment option listed. Treatment should include irrigation with sterile saline, antibiotics such as Keflex, and tetanus prophylaxis; the wound is typically left open to heal to reduce the risk of infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding appropriate treatment options for a cat bite on the chin, all the following steps are correct except for suturing a cleaned wound. The primary treatments for a cat bite would include:

1. Irrigating with sterile saline to clean the wound thoroughly.
2. Prescribing antibiotics such as Keflex (cephalexin) to prevent or treat bacterial infection.
3. Tetanus prophylaxis, especially if the patient's tetanus booster is not up to date.

However, most cat bites should not be sutured, as this can trap bacteria under the skin and lead to infection. Instead, allowing the wound to heal openly reduces the risk of infection. If the wound needs to be closed due to its severity or cosmetic reasons, it should be done by a healthcare professional with consideration of the heightened infection risk.