Should I take antibiotics after stepping on a nail?
Should I take antibiotics after stepping on a nail?
Minor open wounds may not require medical treatment, but using OTC antibiotic ointment will help keep the wound clean.
Do you need antibiotics for a puncture wound?
Address and appropriately administer antibiosis when a patient sustains a traumatic puncture wound. Patients who present early (less than six hours) with a clean, non-infected puncture wound with no medical comorbidities should receive clinical treatment. In this setting, empiric antibiotics are not required.
Is amoxicillin good for a puncture wound?
If the puncture wound involves a substance like soil or grass, she says the odds of having an anaerobe present are higher and amoxicillin-clavulanate is a good choice for an oral agent. For patients allergic to penicillin, Dr. Judge may use clindamycin due to its coverage of anaerobes in addition to Staph and Strep.
What infectious bacteria can you get from a puncture wound?
Staphylococcus aureus (68%), Streptococcus species (44%), and Enterococcus species (27%) were the most common pathogens identified. Pseudomonas was more common in cases of osteomyelitis (36%) than in soft tissue infections (18%) (p < 0.001).
How soon do you need a tetanus shot after stepping on a nail?
If the injured person hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. The injured person should have the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.
How do you treat an infected puncture wound?
To take care of a puncture wound:
- Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.
- Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth.
- Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Apply an antibiotic.
- Cover the wound.
- Change the dressing.
- Watch for signs of infection.
What is the best antibiotic for infected wound?
Doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics for wound infection, including:
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin, Augmentin-Duo)
- Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Clindamycin (Cleocin)
- Dicloxacillin.
- Doxycycline (Doryx)
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
What antibiotics treat puncture wounds?
For deeper contaminated wounds and delayed presentation in high-risk patients, broad-spectrum oral antibiotics are recommended such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or clindamycin with ciprofloxacin.
How do you know if a puncture wound is infected?
See a doctor if the wound isn’t healing or you notice any increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever. On light skin, spreading redness is a sign of infection. On dark skin, redness may not be apparent, or the infection’s streaks may look purplish-gray or darker than your normal skin.
