Fast Five Quiz: Are You Prepared to Confront Animal Bites?

Primary closure should be considered only in bite wounds that can be cleansed effectively. Bite wounds to the hands and lower extremities, with a delay in presentation (>8-12 hours old), or in immunocompromised hosts, generally should be left open or treated by delayed primary closure. Closure management decisions should be at the discretion of the provider after discussion with the patient and consultation with specialists if available. Deep sutures should be avoided because they can act as a nidus for infection.

For more on the treatment of animal bites, read here.

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Cite this: Richard H. Sinert. Fast Five Quiz: Are You Prepared to Confront Animal Bites? - Medscape - Aug 18, 2015.