Medicine review course Animal bites (dogs, cats, monkeys)
8/7/17
Assessment of a bite (the crude history)
1) Where (the circumstances) did the bite occur?
2) Where (on the body) did the bite occur?
3) Time from bite to presentation?
4) Extent of wound?
5) Host immunocompetence?
6) Host vaccination history?
The answers to these questions will provide…….
Assessment of a bite (the refined history)
1) The potential organisms (from the animal’s surroundings, from the animal’s flora, from the patient’s skin)
2) The need to image deeper tissues and activate more than the ID-on-call (Ortho, GS, vascular, ….)
3) The maximal potential extent of this injury
4) Wound treatment, antibiotics, vaccination and follow-up required.
Dogs and cats 1) Potential organisms
-Consider rabies in wild dogs, in non-rabies free countries, in unprovoked attacks.
-Consider soil derived organisms(clostridium tetanus, melioidosis) in wild dogs
-Consider bacillus anthracis in farm dogs
-Consider capnocytophaga carnimorsus and pasteurella species in exams!
2) Deeper tissues imaging
-Consider bone and joint involvement if wound is deep
-Look out for presence of prosthetic joints.
-cats can bite deep. Small wound can be deeply punctured
3) Maximal potential
-Melioidosis in poorly controlled DM
-Deeper infection in breast cancer patients post axillary clearance
-Disseminated capnocytophaga carnimorsus in asplenia
-Tetanus and rabies in bites close to face
Rabies
Stage Duration (% of
Cases) Associated Findings
Incubation period
<30 d (25%)
30-90 d (50%)
90 d to 1 y (20%)
>1 y (5%)
None.
Prodrome and early
symptoms 2-10 d
Paresthesias or pain at the
wound site; fever; malaise;
anorexia; nausea and
vomiting.
Acute neurologic disease;
Furious rabies (80% of
cases)
2-7 d
Hallucinations; bizarre
behavior; anxiety; agitation;
biting; hydrophobia;
autonomic dysfunction;
syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH). Myocarditis
Paralytic rabies (20% of
cases) 2-7 d Ascending flaccid paralysis.
Coma, death* 0-14 d —
Diagnosis of rabies 1) Clinical
2) Serology for rabies antibodies (RFFIT: rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test)
-50% positive by day 8 and 100% positive by day 15
3) RT-PCR of CSF or saliva for rabies virus
4) MRI Brain is not specific. No pathogmnemonic findings.
Treatment of rabies
RISK CATEGORY NATURE OF RISK TYPICAL POPULATIONS PREEXPOSURE REGIMEN
Continuous Virus present continuously,
often in high concentrations
Specific exposures likely to
go unrecognized
Bite, nonbite, or aerosol
exposure
Rabies research laboratory workers,
1 rabies
biologics production workers
Primary course; serologic testing every 6 months; booster vaccination if antibody titer is below acceptable level
Frequent Exposure usually episodic
with source recognized, but
exposure might also be
unrecognized
Bite, nonbite, or aerosol
exposure possible
Rabies diagnostic laboratory workers,
1 cavers,
veterinarians and staff, and animal control and wildlife workers in areas where rabies is enzootic. All people who frequently handle bats.
Primary course; serologic testing every 2 years; booster vaccination if antibody titer is below acceptable level (0.5IU/ml OR complete neutralization at 1:5 in the RFFIT)
RISK CATEGORY NATURE OF RISK TYPICAL POPULATIONS PREEXPOSURE REGIMEN
Infrequent (greater than general population)
Exposure nearly always
episodic with source
recognized
Bite or nonbite exposure
Veterinarians and animal control staff working with terrestrial carnivores in areas where rabies is uncommon to rare; veterinary students; and travelers visiting areas where rabies is enzootic and immediate access to medical care, including biologics, is limited
Primary course; no serologic testing or booster vaccination
Rare (general population)
Exposure always
episodic, with source
recognized
Bit or nonbite exposure
US population at large, including individuals in rabies-epizootic areas
No preexposure immunization necessary
Types of contact are: category I – touching or feeding animals, licks on the skin category II - nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, licks on broken skin category III – single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, contamination of mucous membrane with saliva from licks; exposure to bat bites or scratches
Vaccine details 1) IM rabies vaccines are given in deltoid not gluteus.
2) Rabies immune globulin should be given within 7 days of start of active immunization.
3) Different IM formulations are interchangeable.
4) Different ID formulations are interchangeable.
5) IM and ID formulations are NOT interchangeable.
6) Excess of immune globulins are injected into patient at a site distant from active immunization.
7) Missed doses in pre-exposure vaccination? Resume without repeating previous dose
8) Missed doses in post-exposure vaccination? Resume without repeating previous dose. If unsure, check antibodies levels 1-2 weeks after last dose
Efficacy
Total >222 patients. 0 deaths from rabies
Anderson LJ, Sikes RK, Langkop CW, et al. Postexposure trial of a human diploid cell strain rabies vaccine. J Infect Dis 1980;142:133--8. Bahmanyar M, Fayaz A, Nour-Salehi S, Mohammadi M, Koprowski H. Successful protection of humans exposed to rabies infection. Postexposure treatment with the new human diploid cell rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum. JAMA 1976;236:2751--4. Aoki FY, Rubin ME, Fast MV. Rabies neutralizing antibody in serum of children compared to adults following postexposure prophylaxis. Biologicals 1992;20:283--7. Benjavongkulchai M, Kositprapa C, Limsuwun K, et al. An immunogenicity and efficacy study of purified chick embryo cell culture rabies vaccine manufactured in Japan. Vaccine 1997;15:1816--9. Bijok U, Vodopija I, Smerdel S, et al. Purified chick embryo cell (PCEC) rabies vaccine for human use: clinical trials. Behring Inst Mitt 1984:155--64. Wasi C, Chaiprasithikul P, Auewarakul P, Puthavathana P, Thongcharoen P, Trishnananda M. The abbreviated 2-1-1 schedule of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccination for rabies postexposure treatment. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1993;24:461--6. Tanphaichitra D, Siristonpun Y. Study of the efficacy of a purified chick embryo cell vaccine in patients bitten by rabid animals. Intern Med J 1987;3:158--60
5 bitten given active vaccine without antiserum3 died
12 bitten given active vaccine with antiserum1 died
Fangtao L, Shubeng C, Yinzhon W, Chenze S, Fanzhen Z, Guanfu W. Use of serum and vaccine in combination for prophylaxis following exposure to rabies. Rev Infect Dis 1988;10:S766--70.
0/23 with IVIg died, 3/3 without died
Who should receive abx prophylaxis? Without treatment, 16% of dog bites become infected.1
With treatment, RR 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.38 to 0.82)
Prophylaxis to be considered within 24 hours of injury.2
Preemptive early antimicrobial therapy for 3–5 days is recommended for patients who3
1) Are immunocompromised 5) Hang injuries
2) Are asplenic 6) Bone and joint involvement
3) Have advanced liver disease 7) Moderate and severe injuries
4) Edematous in the biten limb
1) Antibiotics to prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds: a meta-analysis of randomized trials Cummings P. Ann Emerg Med 1994; 23:535–40.
2) A comparative double blind study of amoxycillin/clavulanate vs placebo in the prevention of infection after animal bites Brakenbury PH, Muwanga C Arch Emerg Med. 1989;6(4):251 3) Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 2014 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America Stevens et al CID June: 2014
Common organisms isolated
Principle and Practice of Infectious Disease 7th edition Mandell et al
Treatment Same antibiotics choice as prophylaxis
Duration to be determined by extent of infection.
Remember tetanus toxoid: Tetanus toxoid should be administered to patients without toxoid vaccination within 5 years.
Wound care
Primary wound closure is not recommended for wounds with the exception of those to the face, which should be managed with copious irrigation, cautious debridement, and preemptive antibiotics (strong, low). Other wounds may be approximated (weak, low).
*lack of good controlled studies, heterogeneity in wounds undermine stregth of recommendation
Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 2014 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America Stevens et al CID June: 2014
Capnocytophaga carnimorsus or cynodegni
Gram negative bacillus.
Normal oral flora of dogs and cats.
-more with dog bites
Incubation period 3 days from bite
Risk factors: asplenia, alcohol
Septicemia and meningitis prominent
Mortality for septicemia: 30%
Mortality for meningitis: 5%
Prolonged blood cultures needed
-3-7 days to grow.
Augmentin, 3 and 4th generation cephalosporins usually useful. Consider brain penetration when dosing
Retiform purpura
-occurs in about 20-40% of C. carnimorsus bacteremia.
-clotted superficial veins in a background of purpura fulminans.
Pasteurella multocida Gram negative bacillus.
Normal oral flora of dogs and cats. More with cat bites.
Skin and soft tissue infections
Upper respiratory tract infection
Lower respiratory tract infection in COPD and bronchiectasis
Bacteremia in cirrhotic, immunocompromised host1
-mortality is 31% in this cohort
b-lactam-b-lactamase inhibitor, penicillin, cefazolin, cefuroxime ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolones, doxycyclines active.
Anti-staphylococcal penicillins not active.
Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases 1987;19(4):385-93.: Pasteurella multocida bacteremia: report of thirteen cases over twelve years and review of the literature.
Cat scratch disease: Bartonella henselae Gram negative bacillus Cats are reservoirs.
Cats may be persistently bacteremic
Incubation period 3-10 days.
Primary papule or pustule
-lasting 1-3 weeks
Then 1-7 weeks later, regional lymph-adenopathy
Myalgia and arthralgia in about 10% Can be complicated by ↑Ca2+
Typical presentation
Bartonella henselae: atypical presentations
Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome Neuroretinitis Encephalitis -headache, restlessness, seizures, coma. Endocarditis -notable agent of culture negative endocarditis. -Bartonella quintata more common the henselae.
Bartonella henselae: atypical presentations
Bacillary peliosis hepatis
Bacillary angiomatosis
Usually in HIV positive patients with CD4<100 cells/mm3
Diagnosis Histology: granulomatous inflammation with stellate necrosis. Gram negative but stains poorly. Stains with silver stains.
Culture: slow-growing, detectable only after 7 days. Fastidious organism
PCR of issue samples.
Serology: from serum. Might not be detectable for up to 6 weeks in immunocompetent and 25% of HIV negative patients may be false negative.
Treatment Cat-scratch disease: azithromycin 500mg om x 1 day then 250mg om X 4 days
Neuroretinits: (doxycycline 100mg bd + rifampcin 300mg bd) X 6 weeks
Bacillary angiomatosis or peliosis hepatits: doxycycline 100mg bd x 3-4 months
Endocarditis: gentamicin 3mg/kg/day x 2 weeks + doxycycline 100mg bd x 6 weeks
Minireview: Recommendations for the treatment of Human infections caused by Bartonella Speices J.M. Rolain et al Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy June 2004 p1921-1933
Herpes simiae, herpes B virus Acquired from monkey bites, scratches, mucosal contact.
Only found in Old world monkeys. Herpes B virus not found in New World monkeys.
Sheds herpes B virus like human shed herpes simplex virus.
About 0.4-2% chance that an exposure will carry viral particles
-yet very low number of disease described.
-risk higher if wounds are deep or near head
Incubcation period: 5 days to 3 weeks.
3 patterns of disease
1) Vesicles
2) Fever, myalgia-viral illness. Progressing to CNS symptoms
3) CNS symptoms from the outset
Evaluation
Post-exposure: PCR, serology not routinely done.
Suspected disease
1) Swabs of vesicles for PCR
2) B virus serology
3) LP for B virus PCR and serology
4) MRI brain: brainstem encephalitis
Prognosis without treatment: 80% mortality
Treatment of disease Key point #1: B virus IC50 for acyclovir is higher than herpes simplex virus
Key point #2: Ganciclovir is better than aciclovir for treatment and prophylaxis in ANIMAL models.
Hence, ….
For disease with neurological involvement: IV ganciclovir 5mg/kg bd X at least 2-3 weeks AND until symptoms resolves AND culture negative, FOLLOWED by 1 year of Valacyclovir 1g tds or Acyclovir 800mg 5x/day,
+/- followed by lifelong Valacyclovir 0.5g bd or Acyclovir 400mg bd
-initial IV phase can be replaced by IV acyclovir 12.5-15mg/kg tds
Post-exposure prophylaxis Valacyclovir 1g tds or acyclovir 800mg 5x/day for 2 weeks within 5 days of exposure (because this worked in rabbits)
Assessment of a bite (the refined history)
1) The potential organisms (from the animal’s surroundings, from the animal’s flora, from the patient’s skin)
2) The need to image deeper tissues and activate more than the ID-on-call (Ortho, GS, vascular, ….)
3) The maximal potential extent of this injury
4) Wound treatment, antibiotics, vaccination and follow-up required.