Man's best friend?: a review of the Austin Hospital's experience with dog bites

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.