Citation

Brook I. J. Fam. Pract. 1989; 28(6): 713-718.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Dowden Health Media)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2656906

Abstract

Although often innocuous initially, human and animal bites can cause serious local and systemic infections as well as other complications. Bites to a site where joints or bones are close to the skin are especially prone to severe complications. Bites to the hand, therefore, require meticulous radiographic and surgical evaluation if a puncture or a severe laceration has occurred. Since the normal human oral flora harbors more pathogens than that of animals, human bites have a higher incidence of serious infections and complications. The oral flora of both humans and animals is anaerobic-aerobic, and initial empiric treatment requires the most broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy available, in addition to scrupulous wound management and, when required, immunization against rabies and tetanus.

Language: en