What do doctors prescribe for an infected wound?

October 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, for most minor, non-bite wounds in healthy individuals, prophylactic systemic antibiotics are not necessary. When it comes to managing an infected wound, the choice of medication depends heavily on the infection's severity, location, and the specific bacteria involved, which is why a doctor's assessment is crucial.

Quick Summary

Doctors prescribe various medications for an infected wound based on its severity, from topical ointments for superficial issues to oral or intravenous antibiotics for more serious cases. The specific antibiotic chosen depends on the likely bacteria, including resistant strains like MRSA.

Key Points

Assessment is Critical: A doctor will evaluate the severity, location, and potential bacteria involved before prescribing medication for an infected wound.
Mild Infections Get Topical Treatment: For superficial wound infections, over-the-counter antibiotic ointments like Bacitracin or Polysporin may be sufficient, while Mupirocin is available via prescription for suspected MRSA.
Moderate Infections Require Oral Antibiotics: When an infection is deeper or spreading, oral antibiotics such as Cephalexin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, or Clindamycin are used to fight the infection systemically.
Severe Infections Need IV Antibiotics: Serious infections involving deep tissue or systemic symptoms necessitate hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics like Vancomycin, Ceftriaxone, or Piperacillin-tazobactam.
MRSA Resistance is a Factor: The prevalence of MRSA means certain antibiotics are specifically chosen to address potential resistance, such as Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole orally or Vancomycin intravenously.
Wound Care is Part of Treatment: In addition to medication, cleaning the wound, and sometimes drainage or debridement, are essential steps in treating an infected wound.
Bite Wounds Require Special Consideration: Infections from animal or human bites are often polymicrobial and require broad-spectrum antibiotics like Amoxicillin-clavulanate.

When a wound becomes infected, the treatment strategy is not one-size-fits-all. The medical approach ranges from simple at-home care with over-the-counter options to aggressive intravenous (IV) antibiotics administered in a hospital setting. The decision is made based on a thorough medical evaluation of the infection's characteristics, the patient's overall health, and potential risk factors. The following outlines the medications and treatments doctors may prescribe for an infected wound.

Initial Assessment and Diagnosis

Before prescribing any medication, a doctor will assess the wound to determine the infection's severity. This assessment includes looking for signs such as spreading redness, swelling, warmth, pus, fever, or pain. In more severe or non-responsive cases, a doctor may perform a wound culture by taking a sample of the pus or tissue to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection. This helps to select the most effective antibiotic, particularly if a resistant strain like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is suspected.

Topical Medications for Mild Infections

For minor, superficial wound infections, like scrapes or small cuts, a doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) topical antibiotic ointments. These are applied directly to the wound to prevent and treat infection.

Bacitracin: A basic antibiotic ointment that works well for minor cuts and scrapes.
Polysporin: A combination of bacitracin and polymyxin B.
Mupirocin (Bactroban): A prescription-strength topical antibiotic that is often preferred for superficial infections, especially when MRSA is a concern.

Oral Antibiotics for Moderate Infections

When an infection is deeper or showing signs of spreading, oral antibiotics are typically prescribed to combat the bacteria systemically. A typical course lasts 5 to 10 days, and it is essential to complete the entire course as prescribed, even if symptoms improve.

Commonly prescribed oral antibiotics for mild-to-moderate skin and soft tissue infections include:

Cephalexin (Keflex): A first-generation cephalosporin effective against staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.
Dicloxacillin: A penicillin-derivative effective against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin): A penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination often used for mixed bacterial infections, including those from animal bites.
Clindamycin (Cleocin): An alternative for patients with a penicillin allergy, also effective against many staphylococcal and streptococcal strains.
Doxycycline or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim): Often used when community-acquired MRSA is a concern.

Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics for Severe Infections

Severe wound infections, such as those that have spread to deeper tissue (cellulitis) or caused systemic illness (fever, chills), require hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic therapy. IV administration delivers a high concentration of antibiotics quickly to fight the infection more effectively.

IV antibiotics may include:

Vancomycin: The IV agent of choice for severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
Ceftriaxone or Cefazolin: Parenteral cephalosporins used for severe staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.
Ampicillin-sulbactam or Piperacillin-tazobactam: Broad-spectrum agents used for polymicrobial infections, such as those from serious bite wounds or diabetic foot infections.

Special Considerations for Specific Wounds

Animal and Human Bites: These wounds are often polymicrobial and require broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover a variety of bacteria. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is a common choice.
Diabetic Foot Infections: These can be complex and are often polymicrobial, involving a mix of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Treatment options range from oral antibiotics for mild cases to IV drugs like ertapenem or ampicillin-sulbactam for more severe infections.
Necrotizing Infections: Rapidly progressing infections like necrotizing fasciitis require immediate surgical debridement in addition to powerful, broad-spectrum IV antibiotics.

Other Important Treatment Components

Medication is only one part of the treatment for an infected wound. Doctors also emphasize non-medication interventions to ensure proper healing.

Wound Cleansing: Thoroughly rinsing the wound with saline or other prescribed solutions is the first step to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria.
Debridement: A surgical procedure to remove dead or infected tissue from the wound.
Drainage: For abscesses or pockets of pus, the doctor will open and drain the fluid to aid healing and reduce pressure.
Dressing: Applying sterile dressings helps protect the wound from further contamination.

Medication Comparison Table


Type of Infection	Route of Administration	Common Medications Prescribed	Example Bacterial Targets
Mild Superficial (e.g., minor scrape)	Topical Ointment	Bacitracin, Polysporin, Mupirocin	Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species
Moderate (e.g., early cellulitis)	Oral Antibiotics	Cephalexin, Dicloxacillin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Clindamycin	Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes
Moderate-Severe (MRSA concern)	Oral or IV Antibiotics	Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, Doxycycline, Vancomycin (IV)	MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus
Severe (e.g., deep cellulitis, systemic signs)	Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics	Vancomycin, Ceftriaxone, Piperacillin-tazobactam	MRSA, Streptococcus, Gram-negative bacteria
Animal/Human Bite	Oral or IV Antibiotics	Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Ampicillin-sulbactam (IV)	Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, various anaerobes

Conclusion

What doctors prescribe for an infected wound varies significantly depending on the infection's nature and severity. From basic topical creams for minor issues to potent IV antibiotics for serious complications like cellulitis or sepsis, the treatment plan is customized. It is crucial to seek medical advice for any signs of infection, especially worsening pain, spreading redness, or systemic symptoms like fever. Relying solely on OTC products for a serious infection can lead to dangerous complications. A doctor can accurately diagnose the problem, potentially identify the causative organism, and prescribe the most appropriate medication and supportive wound care to ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Authority Link

For more detailed information on specific skin and soft tissue infections, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) publishes extensive guidelines. You can access them through reliable medical sources like Medscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

An uninfected wound will gradually improve over time. An infected wound will show signs of worsening, such as increasing pain, spreading redness, swelling, warmth around the area, and possibly the formation of pus or fever.

For very minor, superficial wound infections, over-the-counter antibiotic ointments like Polysporin can be effective. However, for anything more than a minor skin injury or if symptoms worsen, a prescription medication is necessary.

The duration of antibiotic treatment varies depending on the infection's severity. Mild-to-moderate infections treated with oral antibiotics typically require a 5 to 10-day course, while severe infections may require longer treatment.

No, it is crucial to complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, even if the wound appears to be healing. Stopping early can lead to a resurgence of the infection and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

If a wound infection spreads to deeper tissues, it can lead to cellulitis. If left untreated, cellulitis can progress and potentially lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis, which is why immediate medical attention and potent antibiotics are necessary.

For patients with a penicillin allergy, alternatives like clindamycin are reasonable choices for mild-to-moderate infections. For severe infections, other powerful intravenous antibiotics like vancomycin are options.

If a wound develops an abscess (a pocket of pus), a doctor will perform an incision and drainage procedure to release the fluid. Antibiotics may also be prescribed afterward to address the remaining infection.