If there is a lot of blood, apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Mr. H returned in three days as instructed. Cats can also injure their tendons or ligaments slowly over time as a result of repetitive straining, overexertion, or fatigue. SUNDAY, Feb. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cat bites may look less serious than dog bites, but beware: They can cause dangerous infections, particularly when they involve the hand, new research indicates. Bleeding may help flush out any bacteria that may have gotten into the wound. It has to pierce deep enough to get into the muscle where there is a good amount of blood flow. These bites may look harmless, but it is important to take immediate medical action after the initial injury. Go to doctor or ER: Cat bites to the hand and wrist have a high incidence of infection. The skin was warm and dry to touch. The patient was switched to cefuroxime (Ceftin) 500 mg b.i.d. Here's how. Zoonotic disease: What can I catch from my cat? They respond aggressively when their home is disturbed, biting and injecting venom. How do you know if a cat bite is infected? 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. If a cat bite breaks your skin, you should seek medical attention if: A cat bite carries a high risk of infection and can be dangerous. It may be painful or tender when touched or pressed. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences from. Another SOLID Site, WALANT | Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet. You can contract cat scratch fever from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Time from bite to presentation, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein values at presentation were not associated with hospitalization. for three to five days or one double-strength trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole tablet b.i.d. This means that the cat's saliva has a chance to enter the sealed-off areas of joints and tendons, which make a prime breeding ground for the . The information shared in this article is not a substitute for medical care. And while cuts. Through this website and links to other websites, Brandon P. Donnelly, MD provides general information for educational purposes only. Diagnosis of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats Patients with joint capsule penetration, tendon injury, or bites older than 24 hours were excluded. 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. and thats just where most people get bitten by cats. Therapeutic III. Stress the importance of immediately washing the wound with antiseptic solution and water and seeking immediate evaluation. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Can taking antioxidants protect you against cancer? 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. After receiving his medical degree fromLouisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where he was awarded the Orthopedic Surgery award. Practical Review of the Management of Animal Bites. National Library of Medicine The right arm was placed in a sling for elevation of the extremity. Disclaimer. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center. Cat bites are more frequent in the mornings, in the summer, and in spring [4]. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are only 1 to 3 cases in the United States each year. The site is secure. This is particularly true when patients develop inflamed skin and swelling. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. According to a 2016 case report, cat bites can injure a nerve in rare cases. Results were negative for fracture, dislocation, and lytic or blastic lesions. When cats do bite, the majority of the time it's a bite on the hand or the wrist. While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected. Active range of motion deficits are present at the wrist and thumb due to pain and swelling. what holidays is belk closed; is lamarca prosecco vegan; Eleven patients (Group A) were presented within 48 hours of their injury. Cat scratch disease (CSD) (also known as cat scratch fever) is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. government site. Type of study/level of evidence: Most cat bites are treated with antibiotics, with penicillin being the most commonly used drug. All rights reserved. - dog bite: - consider viridans strep, pasteurella multocida, bacteroides, fusobacterium, capnocytophaga; - prophylactic treatment: augmentin / amoxicillin or with allergy ( cipro + clindamycin) Learn more about rabies in humans here. Pasteurella multocida infections. As your body works to fight the bacteria in the cat bite, you may develop a fever. Cat bites and scratches: Sometimes more than just a cut. 2021 Aug;70(8):639-643. doi: 10.1007/s00101-021-01003-9. No fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, chest pain, or palpitations were reported. Mean duration of antibiotic treatment and length of hospital stay were significantly longer in Group B (p < .05). In todays blog post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly discusses why the risk of a cat bite infection has become a growing concern. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. 20 The trial was terminated because of high rates of infection with wound care alone (47%). Although cats have no more germs in their mouths than dogs or people, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that when cats bite, their sharp teeth can inject hard-to-treat bacteria deeply into the skin and joints, increasing the risk for serious infection. Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch or bite. No fevers, chills, increased redness, or swelling was noted. It is especially dangerous for a cat to bite the wrist or hand - all places where joints, bones and tendons are close to the surface. Almost 40% of cases had flexor tendon sheath infection of the fingers. Millions of people are bitten by animals every year, mainly by dogs. Avoidance of bites, prompt wound management, and judicious use of antibiotics decrease antimicrobial resistance and infection incidence. The average length of stay for these patients was 3.2 days. He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. Roughly 400,000 cat bites occur in the United States each year. 8600 Rockville Pike Disclaimer. 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. Benson LS, Edwards SL, Schiff AP, Williams CS, Visotsky JL. A small puncture wound, particularly from a human or cat bite, may involve significant injury to the tendon, joint capsule, or articular cartilage. If you dont know the rabies status of the animal, try to locate it and call animal control. [Hyatt, 2017] PFT is a clinical diagnosis!! Mr. Hs right-hand wounds were cleansed with antibacterial soap, betadine wash, and sterile water rinse. 6. Cat bite; animal bite; infection. Tendon and tissue damage. There is a remarkable amount of research around cat bites. Its really just a function of their slender, sharp fangs. Regardless of how a cat bite happens, it is not something to take lightly. Puncture wounds tend to heal quickly, but a very deep bite can leave a scar. A dogs powerful jaws and blunt teeth tend to leave a larger wound, but they dont penetrate as deeply. The bacteria injected by a cat bite can include a strain common in animals and particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, he says. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0372-2022. Kheiran A, Palial V, Rollett R, Wildin CJ, Chatterji U, Singh HP. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. Identifying Bug Bites and Stings, and How To Treat Them. CSD is transmitted when a cat carrying the infection: The following animals are at the highest risk of carrying the infection: Its important to know that CSD is most common in children. 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. 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). Wecannot answer individual questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. Infections occur as a result of a combination of the oral flora of the animal and the human skin flora. This then causes the wound to potentially close up around the bacteria, which can lead to an infection. PMC If you cant capture the cat, you might need to start rabies vaccination as a precaution. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003778. "Every time they would stitch me up after flushing the wound, the infection would just get worse. Animal bites on your hand and fingers are common, especially from pets like dogs and cats. Wrist tendonitis is irritation and inflammation of the tendons at the wrist joint. The patient appeared ill and uncomfortable. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. When a cat lands on the ground incorrectly after jumping, the ligaments and tendons are at risk of tearing, rupturing or breaking down over time. Even though they dont look like much, a cats pinpoint bite marks can inject bacteria deeply into skin and joints, opening the door for a serious infection. doi: 10.7759/cureus.9357. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Some bruising may develop, but the wound should heal within a week to 10 days. Cat bite victims sometimes must have their wounds surgically irrigated or even have infected tissue removed, a procedure called debridement. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.21.00084. Four patients underwent digital or ray amputations. If you have some antibiotic cream such as neosporin, apply it. eCollection 2021 Sep. Strwald Y, Erdle B, Busch P, Kalbhenn J, Bansbach J. Anaesthesist. Misunderstanding this risk has led to a worrying number of hospitalizations, as patients require surgery to clean wounds or remove tissue thats become infected. But remember, if you are bitten, prompt medical care is required to prevent serious, even long-term complications from a cat bite infection. It was strongly advised that the patient follow up the next day, but Mr. H declined. These include: If the cat bite is deep, it can damage your tendon(s). First, be sure to clean the wound. Pasteurella species was isolated from 35% of infected wounds. Diabetic fingers with established peripheral neuropathy were more likely to undergo amputation. The most common symptoms of infection from a cat bite include: redness or discoloration swelling inflammation warmth a bump or blister where the bite wound is located More serious symptoms of. tenderness or pain under your elbow or armpit due to swollen lymph nodes. Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats. The subjects were 18 females and two males aged 27-86 years (mean age of 58 years). NCI CPTC Antibody Characterization Program. The researchers studied nearly 200 cat bite cases that occurred between 2009 and 2011. Do not allow kittens and young cats to play with your hands. A cat bite on the hand can turn into a hospital stay, according to a new study. Common pathogens include Pasteurella species, Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, anaerobes, Capnocytophaga, Moraxella, Corynebacterium, and Neisseria. Briefly, infected bites will often appear red and swollen. in New Orleans, where he was awarded the Orthopedic Surgery award. Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly is a native of Slidell, LA. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. The trusted provider of medical information since 1899, Overview and Evaluation of Hand Disorders, Digital Flexor Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis (Trigger Finger), Last review/revision Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022. ANZ J Surg. But bewareyour cat can make you sick. You may need to be on antibiotics so get medical care. We've visualized two studie We've visualized the results of a new clinical trial that compared butter, cocon How long does COVID-19 live on Plastic? According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the average patient with a cat bite first noticed their infections about 12 hours after the bite. If you have a hand injury and would like to have it evaluated by our areas leading hand specialist, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Two-third of those hospitalized needed surgery. "The infection from the cat bite reached my tendon," Bothun said. Joint spaces were preserved, and bony structures were in good alignment. They may take a culture swab to help identify the type of bacteria causing the infection. Does vitamin D play a role in your risk of dying from cancer? Nearly 40% of cat bites may lead to an infection according to one estimate, which supports the extra attention medical professionals often pay to cat bites.