Unknowningly own a HOT

[trailblazer295]

Seems I unknowingly own a HOT and didn't know it. I must admit I haven't used gloves or a hook when interacting with it.

Why Cat Bites Are Pretty Much the Worst Thing Ever





















I sleep with this dangerous creature.

[jossh27]

I didn't read the article but if it goes on about the cats saliva being bad i can agree. I dated a girl for a while who was bit by a cat and she got a vicious bone or blonde disease from it... Can't remember what one but she was hospitalized for a while! I'm leaving mor towards the bone disease

[trailblazer295]

Taken from the article "When they opened up my hand at the second incision site, what they found was something called tenosynovitis*. Essentially my tendon sheath, a single cell-thick film that protects the tendons as they move across the finger bones, had been destroyed by the infection (which, I learned, was caused by a bacteria called Pasteurella). My surgeon, Dr. Nader Paksima, said he went into my hand and the tendon sheath looked like "a bunch of wet tissue paper." All clotted and messy. They had to scrape it all out—a process called at tenosynovectomy.


Here's the TL;DR version in case you bypassed all of the above: Cat bites are highly infectious. 80% of cat bites become infected (my doctor had three other cat bites on his shift at the hospital last week, but mine was the worst of all!), and the infections are so bad because cat teeth are narrow and long and act like needles, injecting bacteria from both the skin's surface and the cat's mouth into the punture wound cavity."

[MDT]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Here's the TL;DR version in case you bypassed all of the above: Cat bites are highly infectious. 80% of cat bites become infected (my doctor had three other cat bites on his shift at the hospital last week, but mine was the worst of all!), and the infections are so bad because cat teeth are narrow and long and act like needles, injecting bacteria from both the skin's surface and the cat's mouth into the punture wound cavity."

truth........

[jossh27]

Just goes to show they are evil

[trailblazer295]

The face of evil, then guarding me at night laying on me and fighting during the day...

[sirtalis]

My aunt is a nurse, and she said that most cat scratches and bites usually end up infected.

[trailblazer295]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

My aunt is a nurse, and she said that most cat scratches and bites usually end up infected.

I get scratched on a regular basis, in play of course not in a defensive fight. But I still bleed from time to time and I've never had an issue.

[prairiepanda]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

I get scratched on a regular basis, in play of course not in a defensive fight. But I still bleed from time to time and I've never had an issue.

Usually those scratches are only just on the surface of the skin, so infection would be difficult. Scratches from an actual attack are a lot more dangerous as they do make way for a lot of bacteria to enter the blood.

[jossh27]

Cat scratch fever isn't just a horrible song...

[that1guy]

This really is ridiculous. I have just two things to address about this.

"All of you who are under the impression that cats are absolutely the best thing for the Internet—producing GIFs and memes galore—are bloody delusional. My 8lb house cat Franny almost destroyed a small section of your Internet last week, temporarily crippling one of the hands I use to type all your nightly posts."

1st: This person is clearly has an inflated since of self worth. I can assure you the internet would be just fine without them. I would bet that over 99.9% of internet users have never even heard of this person. Making their "small section" of the internet insignificant.

"Here's the TL;DR version in case you bypassed all of the above: Cat bites are highly infectious. 80% of cat bites become infected (my doctor had three other cat bites on his shift at the hospital last week, but mine was the worst of all!), and the infections are so bad because cat teeth are narrow and long and act like needles, injecting bacteria from both the skin's surface and the cat's mouth into the punture wound cavity."

2nd: This is true of any puncture wound or scratch. While it'd true cat's teeth can carry bacteria, so can anything else. Any puncture wound or scratch can get infected. The risk is higher with a puncture wound because the wound is deeper and runs the risk of "injecting bacteria" under the skin. Which is why you should always clean any wound ASAP. A little bit of alcohol goes a long way. In fact I'm willing to bet if she cleaned the wound with alcohol right away the infection wouldn't have been as near as bad, if it persisted at all.

[MDT]

Originally Posted by that1guy

Which is why you should always clean any wound ASAP. A little bit of alcohol goes a long way. In fact I'm willing to bet if she cleaned the wound with alcohol right away the infection wouldn't have been as near as bad, if it persisted at all.

While I agree with you regarding wound care and cleaning, even high pressure irrigation of cat bites will rarely ward off the ensuing infection. I have treated a butt-load of legit cat bites. And yes, we irrigate with high pressure saline or tap water (no diff between the two on which works better statistically...you use what's readily available)....Alcohol, other than being somewhat of a torture device on an open wound, is not a significant improvement. The outcome is usually very predictable....initial treatment with wound management, update tetanus if needed, ensure that the animal has been immunized for rabies (and if not or unknown, animal control gotta go grab da cat). Antibiotics and recheck in 24 hrs...if worse, obtain blood cultures, wound cultures, begin IV antibiotics and admit to the hospital then consult w hand surgery...Occasionally, step one works completely...more commonly, step two is required....cat bites are rough.

[trailblazer295]

I don't put any weight in this article. Humans have bacteria in our mouths too so it means nothing. Any animal with the tools of nature can mess you up pretty good if they are so inclined. If I was afraid of my cat I wouldn't have one.

[MDT]

dude...don't be afraid of your cat, i'm def not afraid of mine... however, this article is legit. this happens. i've seen it too many times. pasturella is the real deal. and it's true, about 80-85% cat bites (real, honest-to-goodness-skin-and-muscle-pentetrating bites) will become infected.

in humans, along with run of the mill bacteria, a species called eikenella corrodans is a huge player. along w fungal elements, TB, hep B and C, human bites are truly nasty...

[trailblazer295]

I'm not afraid at all. She sleeps beside me at night and I play with her all the time. She likes fighting my hands as you can see. It was funny when I moved recently she followed me around for 2 weeks like a little puppy.