CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN BITES

Human bites should be considered dangerous injuries with potentially s erious complications. Their characteristics vary from an uninfected ab rasion to a serious infection such as cellulitis or osteomyelitis. An estimated 10% of the injuries become infected; suspected pathogens inc lude oral and skin flora. Management consists of history and examinati on, wound care, surgical intervention if necessary, assessment of risk of disease transmission, and appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis or tr eatment. The best choice for oral or intravenous antibiotic therapy re mains the combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic with a beta-lactamas e inhibitor. Among the most serious human bites are clenched fist inju ries, which often require surgical intervention and intravenous antibi otic therapy.