Recent cat bite: Can I go swimming?

Dear Ask The Doctor: I got a cat bite on my thumb Monday night. Yesterday I went to the doctor and start Augmentin (antibiotic). It is swollen and hard to move but could be just from the trauma of the bite and not an infection. Will swimming in a chlorinated pool increase my risk of infection?

Dear Karen: If you have an open wound present in the area of the bite i would advice you not to swim keeping in mind your susceptibility to any other infection and also worsening the healing of the wound. If you however do not have any open and visible wound then swimming should not be a problem however make sure that the wound is not wet and stays dry . All the best.