Which antibiotics are listed for dog bite infections?

• A. Augmentin, Clindamycin, or Ciprofloxacin
• B. Amoxicillin alone
• C. Azithromycin
• D. Doxycycline

Answer: (A)

Dog bite infections involve a mix of bacteria from the animal’s mouth and the skin, including Pasteurella multocida and anaerobes, so the antibiotic needs broad coverage that includes both gram-negative organisms and anaerobes. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) directly provides this broad spectrum, which is why it’s a common first-line choice. In patients with penicillin allergy, alternatives include clindamycin for anaerobic and many gram-positive coverage, typically paired with another agent to cover gram-negative organisms, such as ciprofloxacin; ciprofloxacin alone covers many gram-negative bacteria but lacks anaerobic coverage, so it’s used in combination in bite-wound regimens. Other options like amoxicillin alone don’t cover beta-lactamase–producing organisms, azithromycin isn’t reliably active against Pasteurella, and doxycycline alone isn’t consistently dependable for bite wounds. Therefore, Augmentin, clindamycin, or ciprofloxacin are listed as acceptable choices because they represent regimens capable of providing the necessary broad coverage for dog bite infections.