If it is a RI culture should be done prior to an anti-biotic is prescribe, not all RI are the same and therefore you MUST identify the type of RI you are dealing with before being able to prescribe the appropriate anti-biotics.
Anti biotics should never been prescribe as a "just in case" sadly there is a lot of that mainly due to the fact that your average vets have limited knowledge when it come to reptiles.
Anti-biotics can be prescribe for other issues as well, injury, bites, burns in this case it depends on the extent and usually a broad spectrum anti-biotic to deal with infection or the high risk of infection for example in severe burns.
If your snakes needs anti-biotics YOU MUST seek a vet.
In this case it's scale rot. Vet did a slide and said bacteria was present but did not identify the specific one. She said it was mild so we didn't do the antibiotics. But a week later of treatment and it's not looking any better. I've been reading and some things I've found say antibiotics are ok for them and some say it's not. So I'm just wondering what the deal is.
I don't like any antibiotics used in my animals and I personally will not use them on myself either.
Many can do more harm than good to your body (our animals are in "contained" environments) because they kill off more than just the bug you want gone. Sorry ADD kicking in.
Scale rot.... what is your bedding?
Paper towels and keep everything super clean.
Chlorohexadine will usually clear it up.
Vet says it's a mild case. Yes she's a herp vet. We're doing betadine soaks and silver sulfadiazine cream. And he came to me with a stuck shed and the beginning of the scale rot. So I have him on paper towels during treatment.