A 32-year-old woman presents with a laceration on her hand from a dog bite. The wound is about 2 cm long and is bleeding minimally. What are the potential complications and next steps in management?
Dog bite wounds carry a high risk of infection due to the bacteria present in the dog's mouth. Initial management would include thorough cleaning and irrigation of the wound, along with applying a clean dressing. The wound should generally be left open to heal by secondary intention given the high risk of infection. She should be started on prophylactic antibiotics, typically amoxicillin-clavulanate to cover for common organisms including Pasteurella. Her tetanus vaccination status should be reviewed and updated if needed.