II. Epidemiology
- Accounts for 5-10% of Animal Bites in U.S. (400,000 per year)
- High infection rate (50%)
- Bites are most common in adult women
- Bites are often reported as provoked
- Typically involves extremities
III. Pathophysiology
- Long slender fangs penetrate easily to deeper structures
- Risk of significant deep space infection, while the surface appears relatively benign
-
Wound types
- Puncture Wounds (57-86%)
- Superficial abrasions (9-25%)
- Lacerations (5-17%)
IV. Complications
- Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella species)
-
Infected Cat Bite
-
Pasteurella (53-80% of infections)
- Pasteurella multocida is most common cause
- Rapidly developing (<24 hours, with signs of infection as early as 3 hours after bite)
- Intense inflammation
- Possible bone, joint, or tendon involvement
- Other common aerobic infections
- Other common anaerobic infections
- Fusobacterium
- Bacteroides
- Prevotella
- Porphyromonas
- Propionibacterium
- Other rare infections
-
Pasteurella (53-80% of infections)
V. Management
- See Animal Bite for irrigation and general management
- Update Tetanus Vaccination as needed
-
Antibiotic coverage
- See Infected Animal Bite
- Similar Antibiotics as for Dog Bite Infection
- All Cat Bites should receive Antibiotics
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) or second-generation Cephalosporin
- Confirm cat has up to date Vaccinations including Rabies
- Start Rabies Prophylaxis if Rabies status cannot be confirmed
- DO NOT close punctures or Lacerations over 1-2 cm
- Impossible to properly cleaned
- Cosmetically important wounds < 1-2 cm
- Delayed primary closure
VI. Prevention
- See Dog Bite
VII. References
- Cowling and House (2017) Crit Dec Emerg Med 31(5): 15-20
- Shivaprakash and Vezzetti (2022) Crit Dec Emerg Med 36(2): 3-10
- Presutti (1997) Postgrad Med 101(4): 243-54 [PubMed]