What are human bite infections?
Definition Human bite infections are potentially serious infections caused by rapid growth of bacteria in broken skin. Description Bites—animal and human—are responsible for about 1% of visits to emergency rooms. Bite injuries are more common during the summer months. Closed-fist injury In adults, the most common form of human bite is the closed-fist injury, sometimes called the “fight bite.” These injuries result from the breaking of the skin over the knuckle joint when a person’s fist strikes someone’s teeth during a fight. Causes and symptoms In children, bite infections result either from accidents during play or from fighting. Most infected bites in adults result from fighting. The infection itself can be caused by a number of bacteria that live in the human mouth. These include streptococci, staphylococci, anaerobic organisms, and Eikenella corrodens. Infections that begin less than 24 hours after the injury are usually produced by a mixture of organisms and can cause a necrotizi
