Human Bites

  • Human bites, particularly clenched fist injuries, are prone to infection and other complications. The normal oral flora of humans includes viridans streptococci, staphylococci, Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium spp., peptostreptococci, and Eikenella corrodens.
  • Prophylaxis with amoxicillin–clavulanate 875 mg/125 mg PO q12h for 5 days is recommended for uninfected wounds.
  • Infected wounds may require parenteral therapy, such as ampicillin–sulbactam 1.5 g IV q6h, cefoxitin 2 g IV q8h, or ticarcillin–clavulanate 3.1 g IV q6h for 1–2 weeks. Therapy should be extended to 4–6 weeks if osteomyelitis is present.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.