Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/13007
Title: Man's best friend?: a review of the Austin Hospital's experience with dog bites.
Austin Authors: Thomas, P R;Buntine, J A
Affiliation: Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Vic.
Issue Date: 8-Dec-1987
Publication information: Medical Journal of Australia; 147(11-12): 536-40
Abstract: A retrospective study of outpatient casualty-department attendances and inpatient hospital admissions for dog-bite wounds was undertaken. Alsatians were the offending dog in 47% of 34 recorded cases. The majority of patients were young; 73% of patients were less than 30 years of age. The upper limb was bitten most frequently (53% of bites). Eleven per cent of dog-bite wounds that were treated in casualty became infected. Upper limb and puncture wounds more often became infected. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment was associated with a 6% infection rate compared with an 18% infection rate in those who were not treated (not statistically significant; P greater than 0.1). Patients of over the age of 45 years had a higher complication rate. All these findings are consistent with other published series. The infection rate was minimal when patients were admitted to hospital and their wounds debrided and closed by a consultant plastic surgeon. A plan for the management of dog-bite wounds is outlined.
Gov't Doc #: 3696038
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/13007
Journal: Medical Journal of Australia
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3696038
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents.therapeutic use
Bites and Stings.epidemiology.therapy
Dogs
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Hospitals, University
Humans
Male
Patient Admission
Retrospective Studies
Victoria
Wound Infection.epidemiology.therapy
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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