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Animal bites

Last reviewed: 15 Sep 2025
Last updated: 15 Apr 2025

Summary

Definition

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

  • circumstances of animal bite
  • wound description
  • erythema
  • induration
  • fluctuance
  • purulent drainage
  • regional adenopathy
  • necrotic tissue
  • vital signs unstable
Todos los datos

Factores de riesgo

  • age <14 years
  • pet ownership
  • high-risk groups (for rabies infection)
  • previous medical procedures (increased risk of infection if bitten)
  • underlying medical conditions (increased risk of infection if bitten)
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

  • wound cultures
  • x-ray
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

  • CBC
  • blood cultures
  • angiography
  • photography
  • DNA swab
Todos los datos

Algoritmo de tratamiento

Agudo

uninfected wounds

uncomplicated infected bite: not penicillin-allergic

uncomplicated infected bite: penicillin-allergic

complicated bites: not penicillin-allergic

complicated bites: penicillin-allergic

Colaboradores

Autores

Oliver Spencer, MBBS, BSc, MRCS, FRCEM

Consultant, Emergency Medicine

Croydon University Hospital NHS Trust

London

UK

Divulgaciones

OS declares that he has no competing interests.

Subhro Banerjee, MBBS, FRCEM

Consultant, Emergency Medicine

Croydon University Hospital

London

UK

Divulgaciones

SB has no competing interests.

Agradecimientos

Dr Oliver Spencer and Dr Subhro Banerjee would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr A. Parfitt, Dr Randy Taplitz, and Dr Eric Chang, the previous contributors to this topic. AP and EC declare that they have no competing interests. RT has received funding from Pfizer to attend several antifungal symposia and funding from Schering-Plough to attend an antifungal Speaker's Bureau Workshop.

Revisores por pares

Cynthia Christy, MD

Associate Chief of Pediatrics

General Pediatrics/Pediatric Infectious Diseases

University of Rochester

New York

NY

Divulgaciones

CC declares that she has no competing interests.

Gregory Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAP, FACEP

Interim Chair of Emergency Medicine

Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics

University of Rochester

New York

NY

Divulgaciones

GC declares that he has no competing interests.

Jeffrey R. Suchard, MD, FACEP, FACMT

Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Director of Medical Toxicology

Department of Emergency Medicine

University of California

Irvine Medical Center

Orange

CA

Divulgaciones

JRS declares that he has no competing interests.

Agradecimiento de los revisores por pares

Los temas de BMJ Best Practice se actualizan de forma continua de acuerdo con los desarrollos en la evidencia y en las guías. Los revisores por pares listados aquí han revisado el contenido al menos una vez durante la historia del tema.

Divulgaciones

Las afiliaciones y divulgaciones de los revisores por pares se refieren al momento de la revisión.

Referencias

Nuestros equipos internos de evidencia y editoriales colaboran con colaboradores expertos internacionales y revisores pares para garantizar que brindemos acceso a la información más clínicamente relevante posible.

Artículos principales

Rao AK, Briggs D, Moore SM, et al. Use of a modified preexposure prophylaxis vaccination schedule to prevent human rabies: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 May 6;71(18):619-27.Texto completo  Resumen

Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jul 15;59(2):e10-52.Texto completo  Resumen

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Human and animal bites: antimicrobial prescribing. November 2020 [internet publication].Texto completo

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for adults ages 19 years or older, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
  • Animal bites images
  • Diferenciales

    • Soft tissue injury
    Más Diferenciales
  • Guidelines

    • Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older
    • Recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents 18 years or younger
    Más Guías de práctica clínica
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