rodent bites or bite
Last reviewed 11/2023
- bites from small rodents (including mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters and
guinea pigs) may be contaminated with a wide variety of organisms including Pasteurella
spp
- Streptobacillus moniliformis, another potential contaminant, can cause 'rat bite fever' (also known as Haverhill fever) - this generally presents, some weeks after a bite, with an influenza-like illness plus regional lymphadenopathy, arthralgia and a maculo-papular, urticarial or vasculitic rash
- squirrel bites in the USA have been implicated in the transmission of typhus and tularaemia - a small study in the UK of 21 patients suffering squirrel bites revealed no cases of transmission of either of these infection (despite only 6 of the patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis) (2)
Reference:
- Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (2004); 42:65-72.
- Medeiros I, Saconato H. Antibiotic prophylaxis for mammalian bites (Cochrane review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004.
initial assessment, investigation and wound care
hospital referral, further investigation, wound closure
antibacterial and antiviral prescribing following bite wounds