Human bite wounds to the hand are relatively common injuries and are associated with high infection rates. Given the unique anatomy of the hand, the bite mechanism and the organisms found in human saliva, even the smallest wound can result in an aggressive infection. Failure to recognise and treat human bite wounds appropriately, can therefore have negative outcomes for patients. This article outlines the diagnostic features of, and complications associated with, bite wounds and discusses the recommended treatment options.
Emergency Nurse. 24, 7, 34-37. doi: 10.7748/en.2016.e1611
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 20 June 2016
Accepted: 08 August 2016
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