Are cat bites dangerous? Cat bites can be dangerous both to other animals and to humans. In their mouths, all cats carry a large number of bacteria that are capable of causing tissue infections in bite wounds. One of the more common is highly pathogenic bacteria known as Pasteurella multocida.
If a cat bite breaks your skin, you should seek medical attention if: 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 wound won't stop bleeding. the wound appears to be deep or large.
After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Most Capnocytophaga infections usually occur with dog or cat bites.
Cat bites and scratches can spread a bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease (CSD) caused by the bacteria Bartonella hanselae. The disease spreads when an infected cat bites or scratches hard enough to break the skin or when it licks a person's open wound.
Tetanus immunization — Tetanus is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection that can be transmitted by an animal or human bite. Adults who are bitten should receive a tetanus vaccine (called a tetanus toxoid vaccine) if the most recent tetanus vaccine was greater than 5 years previously.
Human or animal bites can become infected or transmit illnesses such as rabies. A tetanus shot may be required if you have not had one within 10 years; if you are not sure when you had your last tetanus shot, and you've been bitten, you should get one within 72 hours after your injury.
For shallow bites from a household pet that is immunized and in good health: Wash the wound with soap and water under pressure from a faucet for at least 5 minutes. Don't scrub as this may bruise the tissue. Apply an antiseptic lotion or cream.
Skin infections due to cat bites are commonly due to Pasteurella. Rarely, the local disease can lead to sepsis or septic shock [1–5].
Always get medical attention for cat bites on the hand. They are highly likely to become infected. Most wounds heal within 10 days. But an infection can occur even with proper treatment.
Most experts currently recommend prophylactic antibiotics for the following situations only: bites with a high risk of infection, such as deep punctures caused by cats; wounds that require surgical repair; attacks involving immunocompromised hosts; and bites involving the hands or face (Table 2) (3,16,17).
apply an antiseptic solution or alcohol gel after washing. seek urgent medical attention to care for the wound and to assess whether you are at risk of infection — if you have been bitten on the head or neck, you will need to be vaccinated within 48 hours.
Animal bites represent an average of 1% to 2% of patients' visits to the ED; however, most of them are minor injuries and often go unreported [1]. Although dogs perpetrate the majority of animal bites, cat bites are responsible for three-quarters of bites that result in infection [2].
It is estimated that 20-50% of cat bite wounds become infected. Usually several different kinds of bacteria are present in a bite wound, some of which can cause very severe infection at the site of the wound, or even enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body.
Briefly, infected bites will often appear red and swollen. It may be painful or tender when touched or pressed. A more serious infection may lead to pus or what looks like red streaks down your skin and may cause fever. These red streaks are from the infection traveling down your lymph system.
Why Are Cat Bites So Dangerous? Cats have sharper teeth than dogs, and they often puncture more deeply when they bite, but the hole in the skin is small and heals over quickly.
If a bite occurs, emergency care may be necessary in the following situations: Cat bites: Cat bites can easily become infected, especially when they happen on the hand or near a joint. A doctor will typically prescribe antibiotics.
He said people tend to ignore cat bites because they are so small, but they can lead to a laundry list of medical treatments. "The bites lead to serious infections that can require multiple hospitalizations, antibiotics and sometimes surgery," Carlsen said. Just how bad can a cat bite be?
Pasteurella has been found to be the most commonly isolated anaerobe in bites from cats, seen in 75% of cases, Pasteurella multocida being the most common species. Severe infections occur in about 20% of cases.
All cat bites are considered high risk for infection because they tend to cause deep puncture wounds. Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) is generally considered the first-line prophylactic treatment for animal bites.
Clinical infection after a cat bite is mostly characterized by acute onset of erythema, swelling and intense pain within 24 hours of initial injury in 70% of patients and by 48 hours in almost 90% of cases [5].
First, you want to try to flush out as much bacteria as possible and then irrigate the wound with water. Next, wash the wound with mild soap and water. Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth and apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Then, wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
If a person is bitten by a cat, they should wash the wound for 5 minutes with soap and water, cover it with sterile dressing, and contact a healthcare professional for advice. A doctor will be able to evaluate the risk of rabies and prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if one occurs.