Human Bite Injury to a Nurse in the Emergency Department: A Case Report.
Pooja Jangid, Mohan Kumar Hanumanthappa, Ashish Behera et al.
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Case in brief
A 25-year-old emergency nurse was bitten on the right fifth finger by an agitated patient with hepatic encephalopathy while inserting a nasogastric tube; the bite penetrated her glove. Examination showed a superficial dorsal laceration with erythema, swelling, and serosanguinous drainage, plus a palmar contusion, with preserved neurovascular status and range of motion. She received immediate irrigation, tetanus prophylaxis, and a 5-day course of oral antibiotics. Baseline tests were normal, protective hepatitis B antibody levels were confirmed, and postexposure prophylaxis was not required. The wound healed without complications by 7-day follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The bite penetrated the nurse’s glove during a procedure involving an agitated patient, creating an occupational exposure that required assessment for both wound infection and blood-borne pathogen risk.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Assess human bites for tissue injury and blood-borne pathogen exposure, and document baseline testing and hepatitis B immunity when evaluating an occupational exposure.
Why it matters
The case underscores the value of prompt wound care and institutional preparedness for occupational exposures in emergency departments.