Bites

Prescribing Notes:

• Thorough irrigation of wound is important.
• Assess risk of tetanus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
• All human, cat and puncture bites should be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment should also be given for animal bites to hand, foot and face, wounds involving joints, tendons, ligaments or when patient is asplenic, diabetic, immunocompromised or cirrhotic or in presence of prosthetic valves or joints. If the bite occurred abroad, consider rabies and refer patients to Infectious Disease specialists.
• Full information on any required vaccinations can be found in Immunisation against infectious disease - ‘The Green Book’.
• All wounds have potential for bacterial infection and may become colonised, but swabs should only be taken if there are clinical signs of infection.
• Prescription of antibiotics should not delay appropriate surgical management e.g. drainage or aspiration of an abscess.
• There is currently deemed to be no risk from rabies from contact with terrestrial mammals (other than imported animals) in the UK. Bats in the UK may carry rabies-like viruses and contact with them needs to be assessed. Scottish Health Protection Network guidance can provide further information.