04-15-2007, 10:20 AM
A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department 3 hours after being bitten on the hand by another boy at his daycare center. The child's mother is frantic and wants to "sue the center for allowing such behavior!" The child is up-to-date on his vaccinations. The other child is very healthy and his vaccinations are current. On physical examination, there is puncture wound on the right hand. You gently clean the wound and consult with the hand surgeon who says that there does not appear to be any damage to the nerves, muscles, tendons, or joints of the hand. The most appropriate next step is to
A. close the wound with a suture
B. obtain a wound culture
C. provide ampicillin-sulbactam
D. send him home with a follow-up appointment within 48 hours
E. vigorously irrigate and debride the wound
A. close the wound with a suture
B. obtain a wound culture
C. provide ampicillin-sulbactam
D. send him home with a follow-up appointment within 48 hours
E. vigorously irrigate and debride the wound