Adherence to treatment in patients with animal bites in a hospital of Colombia

Background

The treatment of animal bite wounds includes both local management and prophylactic use of oral antibiotics. However, the effectiveness of the latter in our population is inconclusive. This research aims to identify the relationship between adherence to antibiotic treatment and the infection rate after an animal bite.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Colombia. All patients who had suffered animal bites were included in this study. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the results. Subgroup analysis was performed, and the risk ratio was calculated with a 95 % confidence interval.

Results

A total of 227 patients were included, of whom 56.4 % were male, with an average age of 22 years, and 43.6 % were female. Canine bites accounted for 90.3 % of the cases, with the hand being the most frequently affected anatomical area. Beta-lactam antibiotics with beta-lactamase inhibitors were the most commonly used (53 %). Adherence to antibiotic treatment was observed in 63 % of the patients. Signs and symptoms of infection occurred in 44 % of cases, while suture dehiscence occurred in only 3 %.

Conclusions

While adherence to treatment is acceptable, infection occurs at a high percentage. The adherence rate to antibiotic treatment in dog bites is high; however, the use of antibiotics remains controversial, as healthcare professionals do not adequately adhere to national guidelines.