Before (2014). (2021). 2006 Mar;31(3):468-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.12.011. In todays blog post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly discusses why the risk of a cat bite infection has become a growing concern. Infections of Deep Hand and Wrist Compartments. For 14 percent of these patients, outpatient treatment with antibiotics didn't work and they needed to be hospitalized. Watch the area carefully to see if there are signs of damaged nerves or tendons. Of those admitted to the hospital, 38 patients needed surgery to clean the wound or remove infected tissue. Epub 2022 Jul 20. If you have been bitten by a cat, seeyour doctor or visit anurgent care facility. (2015). Read more about types of bites, symptoms, and treatments. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. "I washed the wounds on my wrist and put antiseptic on them," Bothun said. There is a remarkable amount of research around cat bites. Introduction. This then causes the wound to potentially close up around the bacteria, which can lead to an infection. Laboratory findings showed erythrocyte sedimentation rate 28 mm/hour, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein 14.5 mg/L, WBC 10,0000/l, RBC 3.77 106/l, hemoglobin 12.3 g/dL, and hematocrit 35.3%. Anesthetic Management Using the Oxygen Reserve Index for Tracheal Resection and Tracheal End-to-E A Scoping Review of the Impact of COVID-19 on Kidney Transplant Patients in the United States, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Research, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Contemporary Reviews in Neurology and Neurosurgery, DMIMS School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Simulation, Biodesign, & Innovation In Medical Education, The Florida Medical Student Research Publications, University of Florida-Jacksonville Neurosurgery, VCOM Clinical, Biomedical, and Educational Research, American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology, International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, International Pediatric Simulation Society, Medical Society of Delaware Academic Channel, Society for Healthcare & Research Development, Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors: Clinical Case Review, Clinical and Economic Benefits of Autologous Epidermal Grafting, Defining Health in the Era of Value-Based Care, Optimization Strategies for Organ Donation and Utilization, MR-Guided Radiation Therapy: Clinical Applications & Experiences, Multiple Brain Metastases: Exceptional Outcomes from Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Proton Therapy: Advanced Applications for the Most Challenging Cases, Radiation Therapy as a Modality to Create Abscopal Effects: Current and Future Practices, Clinical Applications and Benefits Using Closed-Incision Negative Pressure Therapy for Incision and Surrounding Soft Tissue Management, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation, NPWT with Instillation and Dwell: Clinical Results in Cleansing and Removal of Infectious Material with Novel Dressings. Stress the importance of immediately washing the wound with antiseptic solution and water and seeking immediate evaluation. Tendon rupture: When a tendon separates from the tissue, in part or completely, it is supposed to be attached to, a tendon rupture occurs. The treatment of such infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and operative treatment. Does vitamin D play a role in your risk of dying from cancer? It was strongly advised that the patient follow up the next day, but Mr. H declined. 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 . And while cuts. Obviously, the best bite is the one that has been prevented. Domestic cat bites are common and are often treated by simple wound care with good outcome. Mr. Hs right-hand wounds were cleansed with antibacterial soap, betadine wash, and sterile water rinse. Early treatment reduces the severity of many animal bites. and transmitted securely. cat bite hand cellulitis lymphangitis hand infection. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Though cats are soft and cuddly, they may bite or scratch when theyre spooked. We recommend that any symptomatic cat bites to the upper limb, especially hand and wrist, must be treated promptly, essentially within 48 hours of injury, particularly in immunocompromised population. Accessibility Bula-Rudas FJ, et al. All rights reserved. Benson LS, Edwards SL, Schiff AP, Williams CS, Visotsky JL. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. About half the patients visited an emergency room, while the rest went to their primary-care physician. No fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, chest pain, or palpitations were reported. Cats bite for a variety of reasons. MeSH Complications included nerve involvement, abscesses and loss of joint mobility. Another 154 were treated with oral antibiotics as outpatients, although 21 of them eventually had to be hospitalized. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. Wound cultures were significant for Pasteurella multocida. July 2012 edited July 2012. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. for 10 days. These findings should increase concern for a severe infection and warrant hospitalization and urgent consultation with a hand surgeon. You can contract cat scratch fever from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria. Use interactive toys to play with your cat instead. But remember, if you are bitten, prompt medical care is required to prevent serious, even long-term complications from a cat bite infection. Pulling away, Mr. H fell back and landed on a coffee table with his open right hand hyperextended. "Cat bites look very benign, but -- as we know and as the study shows -- they are not," Carlsen said. We write about feline health, nutrition, lifestyle, and so many other interesting topics! PMC The study, published in the February issue of the Journal of Hand Surgery, also revealed that eight patients needed more than one surgical procedure, and some needed reconstructive surgery. When you think about being bitten by an animal, smaller is better, right? Current medications included lisinopril 10 mg daily and pravastatin 20 mg daily. Bliss 101 Registered User regular. "It may look like a pin prick, but rule of thumb go see a doctor if a cat bites your hand," Carlsen said. Polymer-Based Constructs for Flexor Tendon Repair: A Review. Wecannot answer individual questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. Cat bites are more frequent in the mornings, in the summer, and in spring [4]. The bites can even be so deep that they damage a victim's nerves, tendons and . 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. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 4th ed., Gainesville Fla.: Barmarrae Books; 2003. The pain almost drove me up the . He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. Pasteurella multocida infections. POA Help "Present On Admission" is defined as present at the time the order for inpatient admission occurs conditions that develop during an outpatient encounter, including emergency department, observation, or outpatient surgery, are considered POA. Cat bite - what to do? Disclaimer. Additionally, cats mouths carry a large number of bacteria which can cause serious infections in bite wounds. 2006;31:468-473. Careers. Cat bites create narrow, deep puncture wounds. government site. Diagnosis is made clinically by physical examination and performing various provocative tests depending on the location of the injury. reported a staggering 28-80 percent cat bite infection rate. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Learn more about rabies in humans here. Wrist tendinitis (tendonitis) is inflammation in the tendons that connect your lower arm to the bones in your fingers. She said because she was uninsured the hospital wrote off some of the bill but she is still making payments. Infection in these tissues can be very painful and difficult to treat. Of course, if the cat's fangs go in very deep, this could be worrisome and worth a doctor's visit! If you suspect youve been bitten by a bat, its important to seek medical attention as soon as, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/39/10/490, amjmed.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-9343%2816%2930081-X, e-aps.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.5999/aps.2016.43.6.590, orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/187998/1/424%20pub_thiry.pdf, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/22/10/16-0115_article, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4575703/, vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/zoonotic-disease-what-can-i-catch-my-cat. A continued decrease in range of motion of the second digit was demonstrated at the two-week follow-up, but the pain was significantly improved. Carlsen said the lesson is that people need to be careful of cat bites and monitor them for swelling and redness. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences from. "A bite on the thigh probably isn't an issue because the cat probably just bites the fat," Carlsen said. "Every time they would stitch me up after flushing the wound, the infection would just get worse. On physical examination, BP was 118/80, pulse 106, respiratory rate 20 breaths per minute, temperature 99.9F, and pulse oxygenation 98%. Infections occur more frequently in cat bites because cats have extremely sharp, pointed teeth that can cause deep puncture wounds. PEP isnt generally needed if the cat isnt showing signs of rabies, but the cat should be monitored for at least 10 days to be sure. The average length of stay for these patients was 3.2 days. What is the potential risk associated with cat bites? Bites on the hand are also at a high risk of infection. These red streaks are from the infection traveling down your lymph system. INTRODUCTION. 2 deep puncture wounds along the pinky by the wrist, 1 in the middle above the wrist & another with a tear by the wrist along the thumb. tenderness or pain under your elbow or armpit due to swollen lymph nodes. Treatment can be nonoperative or operative depending on the zone of injury. Review: The Cat in the Window And Other Stories of the Cats We Love. The wound canal can reach into a joint or onto a bone. You should still clean the wound area with soap and water, but its unlikely you will have to take any action. The skin on the second digit of the right hand showed significant edema and erythema circumferentially (Figure 1). Conclusions: Bothun said she waited one week after her black cat, Mr. Binks, bit. 'A cat bite is much worse than a dog or rat bite. Extensor Tendon Injuries are traumatic injuries to the extensor tendons that can be caused by laceration, trauma, or overuse. Be sure to stay calm if you are bitten by a cat. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. Close more info about Pain, tingling, and limited range of motion after a cat bite to the finger, Lori L. Henderson, DNP-c, MSN , APNP-BC, and Teri Kaul, PhD, APRN, Botched cryotherapy procedure leads to painful bullous lesion. 2022 Oct;35(5):498-499. doi: 10.37201/req/009.2022. There were no signs of infection and no pain. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and cover with a sterile bandage. You need to remove the . By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. If you dont know the rabies status of the animal, try to locate it and call animal control. 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. At the initial visit, Mr. H was alert and oriented. 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). eCollection 2022. "They can be very serious. Human and animal bites. Monitor the area over the following few days for any usual symptoms or pain. Cat bites only account for 10-15% of animal bites reported by emergency rooms, but they pose a much greater risk of infection. Bothun said she waited one week after her black cat, Mr. Binks, bit her hand to go to Saint Mary's Hospital, part of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. While cat bites look a lot smaller than dog bites, cat bites have certain features that make them more dangerous. Within a couple of hours the area was in severe pain, swollen, and red. However, more severe reactions can occur, and rashes can develop. Purpose: Infections occur as a result of a combination of the oral flora of the animal and the human skin flora. An official website of the United States government. The oral flora of humans includes Eikenella corrodens, staphylococci, streptococci, and anaerobes. Clinical Guidelines in Family Practice. To assess the overall morbidity of cat bites to the hand and identify risk factors for hospitalization after such an injury. He said people tend to ignore cat bites because they are so small, but they can lead to a laundry list of medical treatments. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Osteomyelitis following domestic animal bites to the hand: Two case reports and practical guidelines. Delayed presentation of infected cat bites increased the likelihood of more complicated surgeries such as amputation. o [ abdominal pain pediatric ] extreme lower back pain after a nasty cat bite that required intravenus antibiotics in the hospital followed up with pain meds and antibiotics antiinflammatory meds, swelling decreasing throbbing pain decreasing, back pain is unbearable. While the kitten grabbing at your hand and biting your fingers may be adorable, it wont be so adorable anymore when he has grown into an adult cat. Go to doctor or ER: Cat bites to the hand and wrist have a high incidence of infection. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted 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.