A bite, scratch or even the saliva of an infected cat can pass it along. While it may be difficult to avoid petting unfamiliar cats who can resist those sweet meows? This will help decrease your risk of contracting an infection. Always remember to wash your hands after touching or playing with a cat and after cleaning their litter box. 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.
Keep the wound bandaged until you see your doctor. Call your doctor as soon as possible to help cut the risk for infection.
They can coil around you alluringly — but they also can scratch, and bite. If a cat scratches or bites you, you need to act quickly to prevent infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered, especially if there is a high risk of infection, such as with cat bites, with puncture wounds, with wounds to the hand, and in persons who are immunosuppressed. The need for rabies prophylaxis should be addressed with any animal bite because even domestic animals are often unvaccinated.
Postexposure rabies prophylaxis consists of immune globulin at presentation and vaccination on days 0, 3, 7, and Counseling patients and families about animal safety may help decrease animal bites.
In most states, physicians are required by law to report animal bites. Adolescents and adults tend to have more bite wounds to the extremities. Enlarge Print. Bite wounds may be closed if cosmetically desirable. However, wounds at high risk of infection should be left open.
Antibiotic prophylaxis should be used for high-risk bite wounds and considered for average-risk wounds. Postexposure rabies prophylaxis should be given to all persons possibly exposed to rabies. Preexposure rabies prophylaxis should be considered for persons at higher risk of rabies exposure, and for international travelers to at-risk areas who are unlikely to get postexposure prophylaxis within 24 hours of a possible rabies exposure.
Almost all of these bites are self-reported as provoked. Animal bite wounds are considered grossly contaminated; therefore, proper wound treatment is essential to prevent secondary infection.
The affected skin surface should be cleansed, and the wound should be copiously irrigated with water, normal saline, or dilute povidone-iodine solution, especially if the animal may be rabid.
The wound should be carefully explored for tendon or bone involvement and foreign bodies, such as teeth fragments. Radiography is indicated if a foreign body or bone involvement is suspected. Observing the tendon throughout the joint's full extension and full flexion can reveal small or partially torn tendons, which warrant referral for repair. There are few studies addressing whether an animal bite wound should be primarily closed. Traditionally, animal bite wounds were left open to prevent secondary infections.
In one study of dog bite wounds in 96 patients, the infection rate was statistically equivalent for wounds that were primarily closed 7.
Greater than 6 to 12 hours for bites to the arm or leg. Greater than 12 to 24 hours for bites to the face. Information from references 10 , 11 , and There are conflicting data regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in the treatment of dog bite wounds and very limited data in other animal bite wounds.
However, studies were heterogeneous and used different antibiotics. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be used for high-risk bite wounds Table 1 10 , 11 , 16 and considered in average-risk wounds. Cultures of bite wounds are generally not helpful initially, unless the wound is abscessed or already infected. This bacterium can cause a fast-growing infection in humans and is one of the reasons to consider antibiotic prophylaxis for bite wounds.
Wounds that become infected within 24 hours of the bite are often caused by Pasteurella. Patients who have had splenectomy or who abuse alcohol are at highest risk of C. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered for all bites requiring closure and for high-risk bites.
Clindamycin, mg 3 times per day plus ciprofloxacin Cipro , mg twice per day. Doxycycline, mg twice per day. Penicillin VK, mg 4 times per day plus dicloxacillin, mg 4 times per day.
Information from references 10 , 16 , and Tetanus vaccination is recommended after an animal bite if it has been more than five years since the patient has been immunized. Rabies is a virus that can infect any mammal. In the past decade, there have been up to eight human cases in the United States each year. In , there were cases of rabies in cats and 84 cases in dogs.
Postexposure prophylaxis is indicated in all persons who were possibly exposed to a rabid animal and is given to about 16, to 39, persons in the United States each year. The immune globulin is infiltrated around the bite wound, and any additional volume is administered at a site distant to the vaccination site, usually the opposite arm as the rabies vaccine.
In the past, a fifth dose of the vaccine was given on day 28; however, in , the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended dropping this step.
Postexposure prophylaxis is generally not needed in patients with a dog or cat bite as long as the animal is not showing signs of rabies, such as inappetence, dysphagia, abnormal behavior, ataxia, paralysis, altered vocalization, or seizures; however, the animal should be monitored for at least 10 days.
No animal should be euthanized within 10 days of biting someone so that it can be properly observed. Preexposure prophylaxis should be considered in persons with higher risk of rabies exposure, such as certain laboratory workers, veterinarians, spelunkers, and certain international travelers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers to at-risk areas receive preexposure prophylaxis if they are unlikely to receive treatment within 24 hours of a possible exposure.
Preexposure prophylaxis consists of three vaccines given on days 0, 7, and 21 to Saliva, brain tissue, and nervous system tissue are considered infective. Blood, urine, and feces are not infective, and contact does not warrant postexposure prophylaxis. Table 4 includes postexposure rabies prophylaxis recommendations for specific animal bites.
Vaccination should not be initiated unless the animal develops clinical signs of rabies. Rabid or suspected. Unknown e. Public health officials should be consulted; immediate vaccination should be considered. Consider immediate vaccination; if the animal is being tested, delay vaccination until results are available. Public health officials should be consulted; most livestock in the United States are vaccinated for rabies.
Public health officials should be consulted; bites of rabbits, hares, and small rodents e. Training makes a dog more confident and less likely to bite out of fear. Pets should have regular veterinary visits to stay updated on vaccines and to improve health. Pets that are in pain or sick are more likely to bite. Neutering dogs has been shown to decrease bites. Young children should never be left alone with pets. Wrong topic—not what I was looking for.
It was hard to understand. It didn't answer any of my questions. I still don't know what to do next. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Patient Education.
Cat Bite A cat bite can cause a wound deep enough to break the skin. Home care Wash your hands well with soap and warm water before and after caring for the wound. Rabies prevention Rabies is a virus that can be carried in certain animals. Follow-up care Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as directed.
When to seek medical advice Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur: Signs of infection: Spreading redness or warmth from the wound Increased pain or swelling Fever of Signs of rabies infection: Headache Confusion Strange behavior Increased salivating or drooling Seizure Decreased ability to move any body part near the bite area Bleeding that can't be stopped after 5 minutes of firm pressure.
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