Emergency Medicine Book

http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Cat Bite

Aka: Cat Bite
Advertisement
  1. See Also
    1. Animal Bite
    2. Dog Bite
  2. Epidemiology
    1. Accounts for 5-10% of Animal Bites
    2. High infection rate (50%)
  3. Pathophysiology
    1. Long slender fangs result in
      1. Puncture Wounds (57-86%)
      2. Superficial abrasions (9-25%)
      3. Lacerations (5-17%)
  4. Causes: Secondary infection
    1. Pasteurella (53-80% of infections)
      1. Rapidly developing (<24 hours)
      2. Intense inflammation
      3. Possible bone, joint, or tendon involvement
  5. Complications
    1. Cat Scratch Disease
  6. Management
    1. See Animal Bite for irrigation and general management
    2. Antibiotic coverage
      1. Similar antibiotics as for Dog Bite Infection
      2. All Cat Bites should receive antibiotics
      3. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) or
      4. Second-generation Cephalosporin
    3. DO NOT close punctures or Lacerations over 1-2 cm
      1. Impossible to properly cleaned
    4. Cosmetically important wounds < 1-2 cm
      1. Delayed primary closure
  7. References
    1. Presutti (1997) Postgrad Med 101(4): 243-54

Navigation Tree