Lecture 31 11/8/24

Question 1

How many people are bitten by dogs each year in the US?

Answer 1

4.5 million

Question 2

Who are the most common victims of dog bites?

Answer 2

children

Question 3

What are ways to prevent dog bites in children?

Answer 3

-responsible pet ownership
-education
-avoiding risky situations

Question 4

How many dog bite victims require medical attention?

Answer 4

1 in 5

Question 5

What percent of animal bites that require medical attention are inflicted by dogs?

Answer 5

90%

Question 6

How many deaths occur from dog bites in the US each year, on average?

Answer 6

43

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the most common dog bites?

Answer 7

-male children 5-9 years old
-warm weather
-afternoon timing

Question 8

Where on the body do most dog bites occur?

Answer 8

-hands and arms in adults
-head/neck/face in children

Question 9

What are avulsion bites?

Answer 9

skin torn away from underlying tissue and bone

Question 10

What are laceration bites?

Answer 10

hole with surrounding tissue torn

Question 11

Which dogs have greatest biting force?

Answer 11

large brachycephalic dogs

Question 12

What type of bite is most common in cat bites?

Answer 12

puncture bites

Question 13

Which age groups are most likely to be hospitalized for dog bites?

Answer 13

-elderly
-children

Question 14

What are the risk factors for dog bites in terms of the dog?

Answer 14

-intact male
-purebred
-multi-dog household
-certain breeds

Question 15

What are the risk factors for dog bites in terms of the owner?

Answer 15

-resident’s income is less than county median
-adult male owners
-misinterpretation of animal signaling

Question 16

How many cat bites occur annually in the US?

Answer 16

400,000

Question 17

What are the characteristics of most common cat bites?

Answer 17

-female adults
-injury to hand
-occurs during petting or feeding
-occupational risk

Question 18

What are signs of aggression in cats?

Answer 18

-pupillary dilation
-stillness/tense body
-ears flattened backwards
-piloerection of hair
-erect tail
-arched back
-tail tucked under body

Question 19

What is the infection rate in dog bites in the US?

Answer 19

18%

Question 20

What is the infection rate in cat bites in the US?

Answer 20

50%

Question 21

What are the characteristics of bite wound infection with Pasteurella multocida?

Answer 21

-multiple pathogens can be involved
-Pasteurella multocida isolated from majority of dogs and cats
-bacterial transmission through saliva via scratch, bite, or lick
-short incubation period, up to 24 hours
-cellulitis and osteomyelitis occur in humans

Question 22

What are the characteristics of bite wound infection with Capnocytophaga canimorphus?

Answer 22

-normal oral flora in majority of dogs and cats
-rare infection; occurs in immunocompromised individuals
-bite not needed to transmit
-complications include septicemia, meningitis, and endocarditis

Question 23

Which cat bites are most likely to result in hospitalization?

Answer 23

those that occur over joints

Question 24

What are the characteristics of Bartonella henselae?

Answer 24

-gram-neg. bacillus
-found in kittens
-transmitted through bites, scratches, and licks
-incubation period of 3-14 days
-causes lymphadenopathy
-most common in children and immunocompromised individuals

Question 25

What are the characteristics of Streptobacillus moniliformis?

Answer 25

-spread by rats -uncommon -spread via bites, scratches, mucous membrane contact, and contact with food/water contaminated w/ urine -incubation period of 3-10 days -clinical signs including fever, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain -complications including hepatitis, nephritis, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and death

Question 26

What are the characteristics of herpesvirus B?

Answer 26

-infects old world primates -transmitted to humans via scratches and bites -incubation period of 2 days to 5 weeks -clinical signs in humans include flu-like symptoms, encephalitis, and death -no vaccine

Question 27

What factors make wound infection more likely?

Answer 27

-victim greater than 50 years old -puncture wounds -bites on hands -treatment delayed more than 24 hours -inadequate initial irrigation and debridement

Question 28

What are the steps to handling a minor bite wound?

Answer 28

-wash with soap and water -apply antibiotic cream -cover with clean bandage

Question 29

When should a minor bite wound be elevated to a healthcare provider?

Answer 29

-clinical signs of infection -unknown rabies vaccination status/animal acting strange -greater than 5 years since last tetanus vx -immunocompromised or asplenic individuals -bites to face, hand, or foot

Question 30

What are the steps to handling a major bite wound?

Answer 30

-apply pressure to stop bleeding -see a healthcare provider ASAP

Question 31

What are the potential components of treatment for a bite wound?

Answer 31

-irrigation -debridement -suturing -antibiotics

Question 32

Which dogs bite most often?

Answer 32

-intact males -terriers, working, herding, non-sporting dogs -lower income neighborhood -owned by family/known to victim

Question 33

Which situation leads to the greatest percentage of death from dog bites?

Answer 33

unrestrained dogs on owner's property

Question 34

What are the preventable factors in dog bite-related fatalities?

Answer 34

-able-bodied person around to intervene -incidental/no relationship to dog -dog was intact

Question 35

What are the issues with breed-specific laws?

Answer 35

-dogs go into hiding -good owners and dogs are punished -impart a false sense of security -may encourage irresponsible ownership

Question 36

What are the characteristics of owner knowledge surrounding dog bites and dog behavior?

Answer 36

-general lack of knowledge -females more knowledgeable than males -mothers more knowledgable than males and non-parent females

Question 37

How can dog bites best be prevented?

Answer 37

-early socialization -responsible pet ownership -avoiding risky situations -learning animal body language

Question 38

What are the risk factors for animals to carry MRSA?

Answer 38

-live with an immunocompromised person -live with human healthcare workers -live with vet clinic personnel -involved in hospital therapeutic visits

Question 39

How can MRSA spread between animals and people be reduced?

Answer 39

-good hygiene/washing hands -reducing facial and nasal contact with known carriers