Watch the area carefully to see if there are signs of damaged nerves or tendons. 2006 Nov-Dec;106(6):692-5. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2006.11679983. However, delayed presentation may lead to significant morbidity or even mortality. eCollection 2021 Sep. Strwald Y, Erdle B, Busch P, Kalbhenn J, Bansbach J. Anaesthesist. There was limited range of motion at the PIP joint on the second digit. Diagnosis is made clinically by physical examination and performing various provocative tests depending on the location of the injury. The small but deep puncture wounds are. - dog bite: - consider viridans strep, pasteurella multocida, bacteroides, fusobacterium, capnocytophaga; - prophylactic treatment: augmentin / amoxicillin or with allergy ( cipro + clindamycin) If you have some antibiotic cream such as neosporin, apply it. Of course, if the cat's fangs go in very deep, this could be worrisome and worth a doctor's visit! . "I washed the wounds on my wrist and put antiseptic on them," Bothun said. Bookshelf 1. Bula-Rudas FJ, et al. Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly is a native of Slidell, LA. A cat bite on the hand can turn into a hospital stay, according to a new study. Zoonotic disease: What can I catch from my cat? Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! What are the top 3 benefits of Vitamin E? Capillary refill to the upper extremities measured fewer than three seconds. Infections occur as a result of a combination of the oral flora of the animal and the human skin flora. Briefly, infected bites will often appear red and swollen. After being advised of the risk for infection, Mr. H agreed to follow up in three days or sooner if symptoms worsened. In todays blog post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly discusses why the risk of a cat bite infection has become a growing concern. . In areas where MRSA is prevalent, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, doxycycline, or linezolid should be used instead of a cephalosporin. The treatment of such infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and operative treatment. When a cat bites, it may not seem like a big deal it can be cute when theyre playing but some cat bites can pose significant health risks. 2006;31:468-473. Lim JS, et al. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences fromCornell University. Pet owners must be made aware of the seriousness of a cat bite. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Uphold CR, Graham MV. Domestic cat bites are common and are often treated by simple wound care with good outcome. Another SOLID Site, WALANT | Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet. Treatment of hand infections using WALANT -when the anesthesiologist is not available: A retrospective cohort study. Dog or cat bites to the hands are the most severe injuries, often requiring surgical intervention and hospitalization.1 Infectious complications occur in approximately 50% of cat bites. Cat bite infections of the hand: assessment of morbidity and predictors of severe infection. of dog bites, middle-aged women were the most common victims of cat bites to the hand, according to the Mayo Clinic study. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help del Mar Amador M, et al. If you notice any redness, swelling, discharge from the wound, increasing pain, or difficulty moving the hand, seek emergency care. Polymer-Based Constructs for Flexor Tendon Repair: A Review. What are are the Differences between Cat and Dog Bites? When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Once trapped under the skin, these bacteria spread and multiply, causing infection and inflammation (cellulitis) of the surrounding soft tissues. She said because she was uninsured the hospital wrote off some of the bill but she is still making payments. The second digit was warm to touch, red, and swollen. At the initial visit, Mr. H was alert and oriented. In the case of dogs and cats, thats not always the case. Some bites require the use of antibiotics through an intravenous (IV), while others may be treated with oral medication. "The infection from the cat bite reached my tendon," Bothun said. Apparently, cats have a bacteria in their saliva that aids in their digestion, which can be lethal if it gets into a human being's blood stream. These include: An infection from a cat bite may set in within a few hours, but it can take 10 days or more for some infections, like cat-scratch disease, to start showing symptoms. INTRODUCTION. Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. We write about feline health, nutrition, lifestyle, and so many other interesting topics! "We don't play like we used to," Bothun said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are only 1 to 3 cases in the United States each year. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or product you obtain through this site. There is not very much bloodflow to the tendon sheath. The study showed that administering antibiotics failed in 21 of the 193 patients, who later received treatment in the hospital. 2022 Dec 16;55:e0372-2022. 8600 Rockville Pike Learn more about rabies in humans here. Immediately wash the wound under running water. Cat bites may look small, but they can turn into serious problems. cat bite hand cellulitis lymphangitis hand infection. Felines' sharp teeth can inject harmful bacteria deep into joints and tissue, doctors warn. Pulling away, Mr. H fell back and landed on a coffee table with his open right hand hyperextended. Avoiding the Danger of a Cat Bite Infection. While some cat bites may heal without causing infection, it is recommended that you seek medical attention for all cat bites. If you decide to delay medical care, watch closely for signs of infection. The most common cause of human bites is a tooth-induced injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint as a result of a punch to the mouth (clenched fist injury). Conclusions: Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. Mr. H was diagnosed with a septic joint, scheduled for incision and drainage, and admitted to the hospital overnight for observation. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Nelson CA, et al. Checking for Immediate Trauma. Early treatment reduces the severity of many animal bites. o [teenager OR adolescent ], , MD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 0. The treatment of such infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and operative treatment. All rights reserved. For an infection to set in, bacteria need time to get settled and multiply in your body which is why there is a delay between a bite and any infection symptoms. Ellis R, et al. The subjects were 18 females and two males aged 27-86 years (mean age of 58 years). Patient demographics, medical history, physical examination findings, laboratory values, and long-term follow-up data were collected. Eight out of ten cat bites will become infected, experts warn, as moggies inject bacteria into the tissue when they sink their teeth into their victims, causing blood poisoning. Cats have thin sharp teeth that dig into skin and drive bacteria deep into the wound. He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. At six-weeks postoperative, Mr. H had full range of motion and increased strength in the right hand. 'A cat bite is much worse than a dog or rat bite. Cat bites with infections can become not only painful, but also red or discolored, and swollen. Wrist tendonitis is irritation and inflammation of the tendons at the wrist joint. Cat scratch disease (CSD) (also known as cat scratch fever) is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. This site is not intended to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. . According to Poison Control, CSD is usually not serious, but people with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing a more serious infection. (2021). How long after a cat bite does infection set in? Data included patient demographics, anatomical site of injury, microbiology results, method of treatment and surgical outcome. Prescribing an antibiotic prophylactically has shown to reduce the rate of infection from cat bites. Of those, 57 were hospitalized; on average, they were in the hospital three days. for 10 days. 6. Learn more about the Merck Manuals and our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. Cat bites need to be taken seriously and carefully evaluated by doctors, the study authors said. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help "It may look like a pin prick, but rule of thumb go see a doctor if a cat bites your hand," Carlsen said. If there is a lot of blood, apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Of those admitted to the hospital, 38 patients needed surgery to clean the wound or remove infected tissue. Be sure to stay calm if you are bitten by a cat. An official website of the United States government. for two weeks. Cats bite for a variety of reasons. Does vitamin D play a role in your risk of dying from cancer? Two-third of those hospitalized needed surgery. Last medically reviewed on March 22, 2021. To assess the overall morbidity of cat bites to the hand and identify risk factors for hospitalization after such an injury. In almost all states, a cat that has bitten a human or another domestic animal must undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine period. Your doctor may also recommend an X-ray to diagnose injuries to joints or bones or to see if there are any fragments from the cats teeth that may have broken off. Arnica, a homeopathic remedy, can help prevent bruising, and Ledum can help prevent infection. Do not allow kittens and young cats to play with your hands. Bothun said she still feels pain in her wrist and does not have full movement. Millions of people are bitten by animals every year, mainly by dogs. The .gov means its official. Tendon necrosis and rupture; Hand dysfunction; Amputation; Systemic infection ~75% of cases are associated with antecedent injury. The more severe the bruising or bleeding looks, the worse the bite is. 8600 Rockville Pike Copyright 2014 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Pasteurella multocida infections. Extensor Tendon Injuries are traumatic injuries to the extensor tendons that can be caused by laceration, trauma, or overuse. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Empiric antibiotics for outpatient treatment usually include monotherapy with amoxicillin/clavulanate 500 mg orally 3 times a day or combined therapy with penicillin 500 mg orally 4 times a day (for E. corrodens, P. multocida, streptococci, and anaerobes) plus either a cephalosporin (eg, cephalexin 500 mg orally 4 times a day) or semisynthetic penicillin (eg, dicloxacillin 500 mg orally 4 times a day) for staphylococci.
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