title: Animal and human bites: evaluation and management.
abstract: Animal bites and to a lesser extent human bites are common trauma cases in accident and emergency units and their incidence is rising. Bite wounds are often deeper than they appear to be and they are potentially contaminated with uncommon microorganisms. They need careful assessment, thorough debridement and preferably delayed primary closure. Tetanus cover and, although controversial, prophylactic antibiotics should be considered after individual assessment of each case, as the golden first steps for their management.
authors.affiliation: G. Papanikolaou University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanopoulos
authors.forename: Zacharoula
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karabouta
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bisbinas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgiannos
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karabouta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents