Clinical presentation and bacteriologic analysis of infected human bites in patients presenting to emergency departments

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Dec 1;37(11):1481-9. doi: 10.1086/379331. Epub 2003 Nov 7.

Abstract

Previous studies of infected human bites have been limited by small numbers of patients and suboptimal microbiologic methodology. We conducted a multicenter prospective study of 50 patients with infected human bites. Seventy percent of the patients and assailants were young adult men. Fifty-six percent of injuries were clenched-fist injuries and 44% were occlusional bites. Most injuries were to the hands. Fifty-four percent of patients were hospitalized. The median number of isolates per wound culture was 4 (3 aerobes and 1 anaerobe); aerobes and anaerobes were isolated from 54% of wounds, aerobes alone were isolated from 44%, and anaerobes alone were isolated from 2%. Isolates included Streptococcus anginosus (52%), Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Eikenella corrodens (30%), Fusobacterium nucleatum (32%), and Prevotella melaninogenica (22%). Candida species were found in 8%. Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Candida species were isolated more frequently from occlusional bites than from clenched-fist injuries. Many strains of Prevotella and S. aureus were beta-lactamase producers. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and moxifloxacin demonstrated excellent in vitro activity against common isolates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria, Aerobic* / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria, Anaerobic* / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bites, Human / drug therapy
  • Bites, Human / microbiology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Wound Infection / drug therapy
  • Wound Infection / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents