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Bites - human and animal - Management
Overview of management
- Perform a detailed assessment. Assess the circumstances in which the bite occurred and determine whether there is any damage to underlying structures.
- Determine whether the person is at increased risk of the wound becoming infected either due to the nature of the bite or a pre-existing medical condition.
- Assess whether or not the wound is infected.
- For human bites: assess the risk of acquiring a blood-borne virus infection, (such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV) and seek immediate advice regarding post-exposure prophylaxis if the person is at risk.
- For animal bites: assess the risk of rabies and seek immediate advice regarding post-exposure prophylaxis if the person is at risk.
- Clean the wound thoroughly.
- Give tetanus prophylaxis where appropriate.
- Prescribe analgesics if required.
- Refer anyone with a wound that is at high risk of complications, or who needs debridement, closure, or reconstructive surgery.
- Prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to:
- All people with a human bite.
- People with animal bites who are at high risk of infection.
- Treat any wound that has become infected with a 7-day course of antibiotics.
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