A 24-year-old male presents with a swollen, painful, and red thumb. He reports that he was bitten by a cat on his thumb. What are the considerations in this case?
Cat bites, due to their puncture-like nature, can often introduce bacteria deep into the tissue and may result in serious infection. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned with warm water and soap. Medical evaluation is necessary, and prophylactic antibiotics are often prescribed due to the high risk of infection, particularly by Pasteurella multocida, a common bacteria found in the mouths of cats. Tetanus vaccination status should also be checked and updated if necessary.