RT Book, Section A1 McVay, Marcene R. A1 Wagner, Charles A2 Ziegler, Moritz M. A2 Azizkhan, Richard G. A2 Allmen, Daniel von A2 Weber, Thomas R. SR Print(0) ID 1100438795 T1 Animal Assaults: Bites and Stings T2 Operative Pediatric Surgery, 2e YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-162723-8 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1100438795 RD 2024/03/28 AB Identification of the offending organism is of paramount importance in determining the most appropriate course of treatment.The administration of antibiotic prophylaxis should be based on the degree of wound contamination or documented microbiology, but is mandated for bites from cats and humans.Verbal reports of spider bites are often erroneous, and surgeons should have a high index of suspicion for other causes.The only antivenins readily available in the United States are for indigenous snakes and black widow spiders. Arizona has an antivenin for scorpions.Be alert for secondary injuries in the patient who has sustained an animal bite, as it is not uncommon and can be life-threatening.Human bite wounds may raise suspicion of child abuse, and HIV/hepatitis infection must be considered.The efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy has been shown, and it is an appropriate addition to the wound care armamentarium.The symptoms of envenomation progress more rapidly in young children due to their low body weight, and the importance of timely treatment cannot be overstated.