Checking for Immediate Trauma. Before The study showed that administering antibiotics failed in 21 of the 193 patients, who later received treatment in the hospital. Early treatment is beneficial in decreasing the risk of infection. Kheiran A, Palial V, Rollett R, Wildin CJ, Chatterji U, Singh HP. Cats have thin sharp teeth that dig into skin and drive bacteria deep into the wound. Unlike other animal bites, which can tear flesh and even break bones, these deeper wounds are much harder to clean. She said what followed was eight weeks in and out of the hospital, two weeks of surgery every other day to flush the infection out of the wound and remove infected tissue, and antibiotics to treat the rampant infection. 1984 May;63(3):133-54. . In most cases, bites that were positioned directly over the wrist or another joint were more likely to result in hospitalization than bites to soft tissue, the researchers said. Puncture wounds tend to heal quickly, but a very deep bite can leave a scar. Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats arent usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases. Cat bite: an injury not to underestimate. The main symptoms were limited and there was painful mobilisation of fingers and wrist, and swelling and redness in the area of the bite wound. 2006;31:468-473. [Brusalis, 2017] Penetrating injuries are the most common (ex, cat scratch/bite). We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. When they bite you, they are essentially injecting bacteria deep into your skins tissue. 4th ed., Gainesville Fla.: Barmarrae Books; 2003. Read all about risks and treatment for a cat bite. J Hand Surg Am. Time from bite to presentation, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein values at presentation were not associated with hospitalization. 2. 2022 Dec 16;55:e0372-2022. Which means there are very few white blood cells to fight the bacteria, and they have an easy time infecting your tendon cells. In these cases, the researchers said, the wound should be treated aggressively. "A bite on the thigh probably isn't an issue because the cat probably just bites the fat," Carlsen said. If the wound is bleeding, dont stop blood flow; in fact, try to encourage bleeding by gently pressing the area around the wound. The treatment of such infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and operative treatment. 2022 Feb 23;14(5):867. doi: 10.3390/polym14050867. loss of mobility in your finger or hand. In todays blog post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly discusses why the risk of a cat bite infection has become a growing concern. ", "It can be just a pinpoint bite mark that can cause a real problem," he said, "because the bacteria get into the tendon sheath or into the joint where they can grow with relative protection from the blood and immune system.". In most jurisdictions, physicians are required to report animal bites to the local health department. Here's how. Brian Carlsen, a researcher on the study and orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic, said cat's fangs penetrate the skin and push bacteria deep into joints and tissue, causing infection. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the patients were initially prescribed oral antibiotics, the researchers said. From furniture, scratching posts, beds and toys to food dishes and litter boxes, youll find everything you need for your feline family members.View the Product Guide. The .gov means its official. He said people tend to ignore cat bites because they are so small, but they can lead to a laundry list of medical treatments. If the cat who bit you was not current on his rabies vaccination or was a stray with unknown vaccination status, you may need to undergo prophylactic treatment for rabies. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. The small but deep puncture wounds are. While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected, another study reported a staggering 28-80 percent cat bite infection rate. 2021 Sep 9;9(9):e3778. Cat bite - what to do? If the patient is allergic to penicillin, clindamycin 300 mg orally every 6 hours can be used. He described a nonradiating pain in the tip of the second digit with limited flexion. Twenty cases of cat bites to the hand and wrist were retrospectively reviewed between 2014 and 2018. Results were negative for fracture, dislocation, and lytic or blastic lesions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are only 1 to 3 cases in the United States each year. Treatment of hand infections using WALANT -when the anesthesiologist is not available: A retrospective cohort study. And while cuts. Deep puncture wounds from animal bites become morbid if not promptly tended and closely followed. Noninfected bite wounds may require surgical debridement and prophylaxis with 50% of the dose of antibiotic used to treat infected wounds. While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected. The average of the participants was 49 years old, and 69 percent were women. Carlsen said the lesson is that people need to be careful of cat bites and monitor them for swelling and redness. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. . Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, a bump or blister where the bite wound is located, inability to use your hand (if your hands been bitten), you start having any serious symptoms of an infection, such as fever, chills, pus or fluid oozing from the wound, or swollen lymph nodes, the cat thats bitten you appears aggressive or acts strangely, the cat thats bitten you is unvaccinated against rabies or youre unsure if the cat is vaccinated against rabies. Wrist tendinitis (tendonitis) is inflammation in the tendons that connect your lower arm to the bones in your fingers. Does vitamin D play a role in your risk of dying from cancer? Bothun said she waited one week after her black cat, Mr. Binks, bit. From the November 01, 2010 Issue of Clinical Advisor, Continuing Medical Education (CME/CE) Courses. Millions of people are bitten by animals every year, mainly by dogs. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003778. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD When To Worry The wrist or any joint in the fingers are usually the worst places to be wounded - and that's just where most people get bitten by cats. Cat bite: An unusual cause of foot drop. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. Am Fam Physician. For 14 percent of these patients, outpatient treatment with antibiotics didn't work and they needed to be hospitalized. The code is valid during the fiscal year 2023 from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2023 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. left hand was severely bitten by a cat that animal control brought in. o [teenager OR adolescent ], , MD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The site is secure. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0372-2022. This data suggests that a lot of cat bites come when petting or interacting with cats. The right arm was placed in a sling for elevation of the extremity. She said because she was uninsured the hospital wrote off some of the bill but she is still making payments. Domestic cat bites are common and are often treated by simple wound care with good outcome. Bleeding may help flush out any bacteria that may have gotten into the wound. Relatively few bites occur on the leg (9%) suggesting that walking away from a frightened cat may be a good strategy. Small but deep punctures there led to a higher risk of hospitalization than bites into soft tissue, according to the study. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.". By joining Cureus, you agree to our You should be especially careful if the wound is around your wrist area. government site. In fact, a 2013 research review showed that Pasteurella is the most common organism isolated from both cat and dog bites. While the kitten grabbing at your hand and biting your fingers may be adorable, it wont be so adorable anymore when he has grown into an adult cat. Epub 2021 Jul 2. Wrist tendonitis is irritation and inflammation of the tendons at the wrist joint. The bites can even be so deep that they damage a victim's nerves, tendons and . Pet owners must be made aware of the seriousness of a cat bite. Nine patients (Group B) presented later than 48 hours. On physical examination, BP was 118/80, pulse 106, respiratory rate 20 breaths per minute, temperature 99.9F, and pulse oxygenation 98%. Puncture wounds from a cat bite have a high risk of infection. The pain almost drove me up the wall.". The information shared in this article is not a substitute for medical care. Cat bites and scratches: Sometimes more than just a cut. Give them time to calm down before approaching them. - dog bite: - consider viridans strep, pasteurella multocida, bacteroides, fusobacterium, capnocytophaga; - prophylactic treatment: augmentin / amoxicillin or with allergy ( cipro + clindamycin) Report of 34 cases and review of the literature. Benson LS, Edwards SL, Schiff AP, Williams CS, Visotsky JL. At the hand, where cats most often bite . A tetanus shot was administered. Methods: If you have been bitten by a cat, seeyour doctor or visit anurgent care facility. Last Updated on: January 25, 2023 by Crystal Uys. There were no signs of infection and no pain. The warm and dark inner layers of your skin are optimal for the growth of the bacteria. Yet most animal bites are avoidable: Understanding how to interact with animals, and staying aware of any signals of aggression or fear, are both critically important. No fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, chest pain, or palpitations were reported. Nelson CA, et al. One study in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that 63% of cat bites were on the patients hands, followed by the arm with 23% of bites. Acute carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand following a cat bite. (2015). tenderness or pain under your elbow or armpit due to swollen lymph nodes. Cats bite for a variety of reasons. Tenosynovitis refers to inflammation of a tendon and its synovial sheath; this condition occurs most frequently in the hand and wrist but can occur in any part of the extremities where a tendon glides within a synovial-lined fibro-osseous sheath. Can low vitamin D increase risk of cancer? BP was 120/78 mm Hg, pulse 98 beats per minute, pulse oxygenation 97%, temperature 98.8F, and weight 290 lbs. Hand or wrist infection; cat bites; delayed treatment; diabetic finger; finger amputation; public awareness. Discomfort. 2014 Feb;39(2):286-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.11.003. Acta Chir Belg. Cat bites create narrow, deep puncture wounds. A serious infection can develop 24-48 hours after being bitten. According to the study patients with bites directly over the wrist or any joint have a higher risk of hospitalization. A cat bite on the hand can turn into a hospital stay, according to a new study. The infection resides in synovial or periarticular tissues and is usually bacterialin younger adults read more and osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi. Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. When the bite is on the hand (and other research has shown that up to 85 percent of cat bites occur on the hand or wrist), the puncture may easily pierce a joint or the membrane sheath. "It may look like a pin prick, but rule of thumb go see a doctor if a cat bites your hand," Carlsen said. How do you know if a cat bite is infected? Cat bites are exceptionally dangerous and prone to infection because a cat's needle-like teeth can push bacteria deep into flesh, tendons and joints. ", SOURCE: Mayo Clinic, news release, Feb. 5, 2014. The more severe the bruising or bleeding looks, the worse the bite is. PEP isnt generally needed if the cat isnt showing signs of rabies, but the cat should be monitored for at least 10 days to be sure. All rights reserved. In fact, the infection rate from a cat bite is fairly high. Cat bites are about twice as likely as dog bites to get infected. Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath in Guyon's Canal Causing Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome . In severe cases, surgery may be required to clean out the infected areas. Here are some of the potential infectious diseases that can happen after a cat bite: Pasteurella multocida is a type of bacteria frequently found in the mouths of cats that can cause infections after a bite or scratch. fever or chills. Yet most animal bites are avoidable: Understanding how to interact with animals, and staying aware of any signals of aggression or fear, are both critically important. for three to five days or one double-strength trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole tablet b.i.d. But if an unvaccinated cat has bitten you, you must take the bite seriously. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of Haymarket Medias Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 20 The trial was terminated because of high rates of infection with wound care alone (47%). Dont use harsh disinfectants or chemicals to clean the wound, as they may harm tissue and slow down healing. You should not use this information in place of a consultation or the advice of your healthcare provider. Learn more about the Merck Manuals and our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. loss of sensation in . Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch or bite. In rare cases, these infections can be fatal. The puncture hole can quickly seal over and trap bacteria from the cats mouth under your skin. . red streaks that run up your hand and arm. And your cat loves you (in its own fashion). Cat bites create narrow, deep puncture wounds. There was minimal pain and bleeding. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences from. If you have some antibiotic cream such as neosporin, apply it. Animal bites that dont break your skin, as well as scratches that just graze the surface of your skin, have a minimal risk of infection.
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