Animal bites
- The majority of bites seen in everyday practice involve dogs and cats
- These are generally polymicrobial but the most common isolated organism is Pasteurella multocida
Management
- Cleanse wound
- Puncture wounds should not be sutured closed unless cosmesis is at risk
- Current BNF recommendation is co-amoxiclav
- If penicillin-allergic then doxycycline + metronidazole is recommended
Human bites
- Human bites commonly cause multimicrobial infection, including both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
- Common organisms include:
- Streptococci spp.
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Eikenella
- Fusobacterium
- Prevotella
Management
- Co-amoxiclav is recommended, as for animal bites
- The risk of viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis C should also be considered