Antibiotics in insect bites
Date First Published:
July 7, 2005
Last Updated:
July 15, 2005
Report by:
Tanzeem Iqbal, Medical Student (Manchester Royal Infirmary A & E)
Search checked by:
Dr Bernard Foex, Manchester Royal Infirmary A & E
Three-Part Question:
In [adults with insect bites] do [prophylactic antibiotics] reduce the [incidence of wound infection]?
Clinical Scenario:
A 37 year old lady returned from a holiday in Barbados. 3 days later later she presented to the emergency department with a red painful itchy area on her left foot which started on the last day of her holiday. You are not sure whether to prescribe antibiotics.
Search Strategy:
EMBASE 1988- 06/05 and MEDLINE - 1966 06/05.
Search Details:
insect bite$.mp. or exp "Insect Bites and Stings"/ AND [antibiotic$.mp. or exp Anti-Bacterial Agents/] OR exp [ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS/ or prophylaxis.mp.] AND [exp INFECTION/ or exp WOUND INFECTION/ or infection.mp.] LIMIT to human AND English language.
Outcome:
MEDLINE 28 papers
EMBASE 152 papers
No relevant papers were found.
EMBASE 152 papers
No relevant papers were found.
Author Commentary:
There is no evidence to answer the question.
Bottom Line:
There is no evidence that prophylactic antibiotics reduce the risk of wound infection in insect bites.