TITLE:
Medical Care after Cat Bites: A Typical Case and Review
AUTHORS:
Jarmo Oksi, U. Ahlmén-Laiho, M. Laine
KEYWORDS:
Cat Bite; Animal Bite; Pasteurella; Antibiotic Prophylaxis
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.5 No.6,
March
28,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Pet cat bites are common—the
most typical patient being a child, and the most typical locality hands and face.
The normal flora of a pet cat’s mouth houses very potent pathogens. Therapeutic
measures include wound cleansing, prophylaxis against tetanus and possibly
rabies. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be administered in the cases of all but
the mildest superficial wounds especially if the wound is in the hand or face.
We present a review on the medical care of cat bite wounds and a typical case of a patient who developed
rapid symptoms and signs of infection after a pet cat bite and nearly required
hospitalization. The clinical picture was consistent with a Pasteurella
infection.