Cat bites on the hand can progress to serious infections. The treatment of these infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and surgical treatment according to a study by Dr. Brian Carlsen published in the journal “Journal of Hand Surgery”.
Dr Brian Carlsen and researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (United States) analyzed the medical records of 193 patients treated for cat bites between 2009 and 2011. Half of them consulted the emergency room, the rest their general practitioner.
Cat bites are dangerous
Complications were frequent in these patients. The results of this study show that 30% of patients with cat bites hand were hospitalized and the average length of stay in the clinic was 3.2 days.
Among the hospitalized patients, 67% of them underwent intravenous antibiotic therapy, with surgery for 8 of them to successfully clean the wound.
The researchers also found several potentially dangerous complications, namely 6 abscesses, 14 tendon injuries, 2 nerve injuries and 14 reductions in joint mobility.
Cats have very sharp teeth capable of touching joints and tendons and therefore carry germs harmful to human health deep inside their mouths.
The saliva of 70-90% of cats contains the germ Pasteurella multocida which causes infections and sequelae of bones, joints and tendons in humans.
This germ was also found on 19 of the 50 bacteriological cultures carried out in the American study.
Also watch out for cat claws
Cats are also healthy carriers of bacteria and spread “cat scratch disease” with just a little scratch of the claw. It manifests itself in lymph nodes and can be cured by treatment
appropriate antibiotic and a single contamination is sufficient to be immunized.
In case of scratches or bites, it is recommended to clean and disinfect the wound. If the wound is deep or in a sensitive area, it is best to consult a professional.
