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Human and Animal Bites

Posted Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Date issued: December 2022

Review date: December 2024

Ref: A-533/NB/ED/Human and Animal Bites

Animal and human bites are at risk of getting infected. The wound will need to be thoroughly cleaned. If part of the wound has dead or the skin damaged, then it may need to be 'trimmed' or removed. This is because the presence of dead skin leads to infection.
Because of the risk of infection, it is sometimes best to avoid closing bites with stitches, glue or paper strips and a doctor or practitioner may wait for a few days and then review the wound. If, at that stage the wound is not infected, it may be closed. However gaping wounds may need to be closed and bites to the face or head may also be closed as soon as possible.

A short course of antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection developing in wounds which are large or deep. Antibiotics may also be prescribed for small bite wounds if:

The bite wound is on the face, hand, or foot.
Your resistance to infection is low, e.g., if you are on chemotherapy, have no working spleen, have diabetes, have an immune system problem such as AIDS, etc.
You have an artificial heart valve (and sometimes if you have an artificial joint).

If you have received 5 tetanus immunizations in your life, then you should not need a further booster unless the wound is particularly contaminated (e.g., by manure). If you are not sure, we may give you a booster anyway.

If you are bitten by a person who has one of these viral infections, there is a small risk that the infection can pass on to you.

Depending on the risk assessment, you may receive hepatitis immunisation. We will give the first dose in the Emergency Department, and you will need to see your GP to get further injections after one and two months. If your assailant is known to have Hepatitis B you may be prescribed immunoglobulin.
For human bites, medication to prevent HIV (HIV PEP) is generally not recommended unless the index case is known HIV positive with an unknown or detectable HIV viral load. Following a risk assessment, to protect against HIV, you can be given medication which counters the HIV virus. These medications have significant side effects, and you will only be given them if the your assessment suggests a significant risk.
Currently there is no treatment to prevent hepatitis C infection from developing. The risk is very small but if you have concerns, speak to your GP.

In some parts of the world, dogs may carry rabies. If your dog bite happened while you were abroad, mention this to the Doctor or Practitioner and we will take appropriate action. It is very rare in the UK.

The most common complication following a bite is an infection of the wound. See your GP if the skin surrounding a wound becomes more tender, painful, swollen, or inflamed over the next few days.
Rarely, some bacteria can get into the bloodstream through a wound and cause a serious infection in the body. See your GP if the wound becomes increasingly painful or smelly or you become generally unwell with fever (high temperature), shivers, or other worrying symptoms within a week or so after a bite. If you are seriously unwell then return to the Emergency Department (ED).