Antibiotics are generally unable to penetrate abscess walls, but may be useful for treating cellulitis and help prevent recurrence after drainage and other complications.

• A single injection of penicillin C (25 mg/kg IM) given within 24 hours of being bitten may help prevent cellulitis and abscess formation.
• Penicillins and their derivatives such as ampicillin and amoxycillin (both at 20 mg/kg orally three times daily) are effective against most abscess-forming bacteria.

Second- or third-generation cephalosporins (e.g. cefoxitin at 10~20 mg/kg SC three times daily), clindamycin (10 mg/kg orally twice daily) and metronidazole (10 mg/kg orally three times daily) are second choice for their particular activity against anaerobes.



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