Dog Bites

Epidemiology: Dogs bite ≥4.7 million people per year, causing 80% of all animal bites; 15-20% of dog bites become infected.
Bacteriology (Table 27-1): includes aerobic and anaerobic organisms, such as β-hemolytic streptococci; Eikenella corrodens; Capnocytophaga canimorsus; and Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, Actinomyces, and Fusobacterium species
Clinical features: typically manifest within 8-24 h after the bite as local cellulitis with purulent, sometimes foul-smelling discharge. Systemic spread (e.g., bacteremia, endocarditis, brain abscess) can occur. C. canimorsus infection can present as sepsis syndrome, DIC, and renal failure, particularly in pts who are splenectomized, have hepatic dysfunction, or are otherwise immunosuppressed.