The culture is done with a lung wash. batryl has been over used for RI and there are many bacteria highly resistant to it. Snakes are not mammals, It takes at least 24 hours to digest oral items and 48 is more likely and then it would take a further 2 days again to have any effect at all. Orally it is unlikely anything would be seen for 4 to 5 days. The current belief among exotic vets is 10 days is simply not going to do anything to reptiles cycles are usually 30 days and often longer. Injections do have a risk of abscesses, the injection cycle is usually 3 days apart. The site of injection often shifts right to left side from an inch away from the head moving down the body. My vet likes to use saddles or alien heads to mark locations so left side first spot and then right second down and back left 3 spot. zThis walking reduces the chance of abscesses and the injections are much more effective.
The sound of your experience I would question if this is RI. It could be or might not. The answer is in the culture, not only it will tell you what antibiotics to use but if they are needed at all. The vet sounds like they are adapting methods used for small mammals for snakes, it is not always the best methods. Clearly I am not there I am not a vet. I do work closely with a vet in my part of an reptile rescue organization, I see her at least once a month. I have never seen a herp vet give oral antibiotics to a snake it also is much more stressful for the animal. Sadly after a round of antibiotics cultures are very suspect. I might wait and if there is still a problem in a month get a culture done. it will tell you if there is an issue and how to treat it if needed.
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