The skin is hard, not soft to the touch. SUNDAY, Feb. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cat bites may look less serious than dog bites, but beware: They can cause dangerous infections, particularly when they involve the hand, new research indicates. Current tetanus shot. What to Do If a Cat Bites You? When one cat bites or scratches another they are introducing bacteria into the wound area, almost like injecting bacteria into the other cat. Most pet cats are pretty friendly. Learn how to spot the signs of a cat bite infections so you know when it's time to get medical help. Cat bites on the limbs or tail often cause drastic swelling known as cellulitis, as seen in this photo, and bites on the body or head often result in abscesses. Some like to sit on your lap and be stroked, some don’t, but whichever type your cat is, the chances are you’ll never see the other side to their character – the wild side.. Every year in the US between three and six million people are bitten by animals, and the vast majority of these are dog bites. We present a case of a child with B. zoohelcum abscess and cellulitis after a dog bite and review previously reported cases. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that you can get from open wounds on your skin, including bug bites. Cat bite cellulitis. Basic wound hygiene and careful monitoring are always needed. The dangers of cat bites. 5-7 days) and re-evaluate the patient to shorten or lengthen based on clinical response (expert opinion). Cat bites account for 5% to 10% of animal bite wounds.1 Cat bites occur most often in adult women, usually on the extremities. Cat bites are bites inflicted upon humans, other cats, and other animals by the domestic cat. It is rarely reported as a pathogen in humans, especially in children. From 7 to 60 days following the scratch, the lymph node draining the site of inoculation… 30F, Australia, Average BMI and in good health. Bergeyella zoohelcum is a rarely reported zoonotic pathogen that is a part of cat and dog oral flora. It is rarely reported, however, and apparently often overlooked as a pathogen. Human and animal bites: antimicrobial prescribing guidance DRAFT (November 2019) 5 of 19 1 • symptoms or signs suggesting a more serious illness or condition 2 (these include severe cellulitis, abscess, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, 3 necrotising fasciitis, sepsis, or lymphadenopathy after a cat bite). (Latin: Felis catus).Data from the United States show that cat bites represent between 5-15% of all animal bites inflicted to humans, but it has been argued that this figure could be the consequence of under-reporting as bites made by Felis catus are considered by some to be unimportant. Pain and fever are not features that occur in periorbital cellulitis. In the study, researchers identified 193 Mayo Clinic patients with cat bites to the hand from January 1, 2009, through 2011. Although cats have no more germs in their mouths than dogs or people, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that when cats bite, their sharp … GBS cellulitis-adenitis usually is a manifestation of late-onset GBS infection (which has onset between 7 and … is a relatively common infection caused by inoculation of B. henselae into the skin following a cat bite or scratch . 56:30 Human Bites (clenched fist injury); Dog bites and Cat bites; 67:10 Take home points and Outro; Top Pearls – Cellulitis, Abscesses and Bites. A small wound from a cat bite can seal up within a day or two, while the bacteria continue to multiply underneath the skin. These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin of the victim, where they can readily multiply. If you see signs of infection from a cat bite, contact your doctor immediately as this is an emergency situation. We use cookies to give you a better experience on our sites. The bacteria injected by a cat bite can include a strain common in animals and particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, he says. Infection occurs in about 30%–50% of cat bites and in up to 25% of dog bites 1, 2 and is often polymicrobial. Diagnosis can … Nonsmoker. You'll notice that your cat's skin feels hot near the wound. A skin lesion at the portal of entry is sometimes present. Normally the puncture wound is quite small but often quite deep and the surface will seal within a few hours, trapping the bacteria under the skin. PMCID: PMC4131574 PMID: 25210576. Cellulitis affects the dermis and the subcutaneous fat. Facial Cellulitis Dreamstime. Infections can lead to cellulitis, an infection of the skin and underlying tissues, or enter the bloodstream, causing septicemia, or … Cat bites with infections can become not only painful, but also red or discolored, and swollen. My family member got bitten by their cat on the left forearm on … • All cases of cat bite • Dog bites in an asplenic or immunosuppressed patient, in a patient with edema in the affected area or a moderate or severe injury (especially to the hand, face or genitals) or one that may have breached the periosteum or joint capsule. Some patients who develop severe or complicated infections may also need to be admitted to the hospital for proper treatment and monitoring. Infection with Bergeyella zoohelcum was reported for a case of cellulitis after a cat bite . It happens when bacteria enter a break in the skin and spread. 6. I have always taken these wounds in stride as part of my occupation. Nocera NF(1), Desai KK(1), Granick MS(1). Bacteriologic analysis of infected dog and cat bites. Almost all of these bites are self-reported as provoked. Periorbital cellulitis patients can present with symptoms such as an insect bite, scratch, or cut near their eye, tenderness around the eye, redness in the whites of the eye, swelling around the eye, and redness around the eye. When a cat bites, its sharp canine teeth easily puncture the skin, leaving small, but deep, wounds in the skin. Bergeyella zoohelcum is an aerobic, Gram-negative rod that is part of the normal oral flora of cats and dogs. Although both dog and cat saliva contain many types of bacteria, a person is more likely to get an infection from a cat bite than a dog bite. These normally cause a cellulitis or superficial skin infection with symptoms of redness, pain, and puss in the wound." N Engl J Med. (Studies show that 50 % of cat bites become infected) I have been bitten by cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, eagles, turtles, and even taloned by an owl during my career. HealthDay Reporter. Can you get cellulitis from a cat bite? Cellulitis is a common infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath. Cat Bite Cellulitis Nadia F. Nocera, BS, Kunj K. Desai, MD, and Mark S. Granick, MD Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark Correspondence: desaikk@njms.rutgers.edu Keywords: cat bite, hand cellulitis, lymphangitis, hand infection, Pasteurella multocida. Cellulitis means inflammation of the layers of living tissue beneath the skin, caused by bacterial infection. Other symptoms might involve swelling of the lymphatic vessels, fever, and drowsiness. In severe infections caused by dog bites, cat bites, and human bites, third-generation cephalosporin like ceftriaxone, and other stronger antibiotics are frequently given. In that report, the strain was unusually fastidious and did not yield sufficient growth for identification using standard culture methods and required molecular techniques (PCR with rRNA gene sequencing) for identification. Of those, 57 were hospitalized; on average, they were in the hospital three days. All cat bites need to be taken seriously because of the risk of complications. Pasteurella multocida is a common cause of infection following bites or scratches caused by dogs and (especially) cats. Symptoms of Possible Complications of Cat Bites. 1, 2 They are more likely to involve the upper extremity and face, with varying rates of infection ranging from 28% to 80%. Shukla SK, Paustian DL, Stockwell PJ, et al. Here are the signs, symptoms, treatments, and prevention tips. This bacterium has the advantage of a short incubation period between 4 and 24 hours which makes it very aggressive. To learn more about how we use cookies, please read our privacy policy.. accept cookies These occur more frequently in adult women and are often associated with handling the animal. Cellulitis results from a deep inflammation of the skin in the area of the wound, with each cell in the skin affected. 2 Cats possess narrow, sharp teeth that can easily pierce the soft tissues like a hypodermic needle. The infection may go unnoticed for several days until swelling and pain at the puncture site develop. Author information: (1)Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark. Domestic cat scratches or bites may also transmit bubonic plague. Puncture the skin and underlying tissues, or even my first cat bite and a phylogenetic comparison with Bergeyella strains! 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