Treating dog bites in the emergency department

Trauma injuries inflicted by animal bites account for a significant number of attendances at Emergency Departments (EDs) in the UK and frequently these presenting patients are assessed and treated in a nurse-led unit. A significant component of the assessment and treatment requires prescribing appropriate analgesia to permit adequate wound assessment and debridement as well as pain relief, along with assessment of the possible risk posed by infection and the subsequent treatment with antibacterial agents – whether prophylactically, or to treat active infection. This report provides an overview of bite injuries presenting to ED, followed by a discussion and review of the pharmacotherapeutics of co-amoxiclav and lidocaine since these are two of the medications frequently used in the ED for initial treatment and emergency care of a first presentation dog bite to the hand.