Under what circumstances should antibiotics be prescribed for bite wounds?

Antibiotics should be prescribed for bite wounds primarily when there are signs of infection present. This is crucial because the presence of infection indicates that bacteria may have entered the wound, posing a risk of further complications, such as abscess formation or systemic infection.

In a clinical context, bite wounds, whether from human or animal sources, can introduce various pathogens. When signs of infection—such as swelling, redness, warmth, pus, or fever—are evident, prophylactic or therapeutic antibiotics can help mitigate these risks and support the healing process.

While it's true that some guidelines recommend considering the location of the bite or the type of animal involved, it is the presence of infection that dictates the need for antibiotic therapy, making this the most appropriate trigger for intervention. Therefore, in the absence of infection, a bite wound might be managed conservatively without the need for antibiotics.