rss
Emerg Med J 2003;20:253-255 doi:10.1136/emj.20.3.253
  • Original Article

Barking up the wrong tree? A survey of dog bite wound management

  1. M R Smith1,
  2. A Walker2,
  3. J Brenchley3
  1. 1Emergency Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
  2. 2Emergency Department, Airedale General Hospital, Skipton, UK
  3. 3Emergency Department, Barnsley District General Hospital, Barnsley, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr A Walker, Emergency Department, Airedale General Hospital, Skipton, UK; 
 alison.walker1{at}virgin.net
  • Accepted 1 November 2002

Abstract

Objectives: Several trials have been published examining the role of antibiotics in dog bite wound management. A meta-analysis of these suggests that there is very little benefit to routine antibiotic prescription in these patients. All papers however incorporated rigorous wound care regimens involving large volume irrigation.

Methods: The authors undertook a telephone survey to investigate wound care and prescribing practice in bite wound management in accident and emergency and minor injury units in the Yorkshire region.

Results: Twenty one departments were contacted. Only 10% of departments routinely irrigate these wounds. Antibiotics are prescribed routinely in 71%.

Conclusions: Management of dog bite wounds would not seem to be evidence based in most departments in this sample.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. Web-only Appendix

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.