Bite, Human
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Basics
Description
- Third most common bite (after dogs and cats)
- Most bites (up to 75%) occur during aggressive acts
- 15–20% are related to sexual activity (love nips)
- 2 types of bites:
- Occlusional bites: Laceration or crush injury to affected body part:
- Occurs when human teeth bite into the skin
- More prone to infection than animal bites
- Clenched-fist injuries (CFIs) (CFIs; most serious type): Present as small wounds over metacarpophalangeal joints in dominant hand (fight bites):
- Sustained from a clenched fist striking the mouth and teeth of another person
- Occlusional bites: Laceration or crush injury to affected body part:
- With joint relaxation from the clenched position:
- Puncture site sealed
- Oral bacteria inoculated in the anaerobic setting within the joint
- Bacterial inoculation carried by the tendons deeper into the potential spaces of the hand
- Increases chances for a more extensive infection
Etiology
- Aerobic and anaerobic organisms:
- Most common:
- Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus
- Others:
- Eikenella corrodens—exhibits synergism with Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides, and gram-negative organisms
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Peptostreptococcus
- Corynebacterium
- Most common:
- Although rare, case reports of viral transmission via bites (hepatitis, HIV, and herpes)
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Basics
Description
- Third most common bite (after dogs and cats)
- Most bites (up to 75%) occur during aggressive acts
- 15–20% are related to sexual activity (love nips)
- 2 types of bites:
- Occlusional bites: Laceration or crush injury to affected body part:
- Occurs when human teeth bite into the skin
- More prone to infection than animal bites
- Clenched-fist injuries (CFIs) (CFIs; most serious type): Present as small wounds over metacarpophalangeal joints in dominant hand (fight bites):
- Sustained from a clenched fist striking the mouth and teeth of another person
- Occlusional bites: Laceration or crush injury to affected body part:
- With joint relaxation from the clenched position:
- Puncture site sealed
- Oral bacteria inoculated in the anaerobic setting within the joint
- Bacterial inoculation carried by the tendons deeper into the potential spaces of the hand
- Increases chances for a more extensive infection
Etiology
- Aerobic and anaerobic organisms:
- Most common:
- Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus
- Others:
- Eikenella corrodens—exhibits synergism with Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides, and gram-negative organisms
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Peptostreptococcus
- Corynebacterium
- Most common:
- Although rare, case reports of viral transmission via bites (hepatitis, HIV, and herpes)
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