Aetiology of bite and clenched-fist injury infections

Bites, including clenched-fist injuries (in which the hand is lacerated by contact with another person's teeth), often become infected. The bacteria associated with human bites (including clenched-fist injuries) are Staphylococcus aureus, Eikenella corrodens, Streptococcus species and beta-lactamase–producing anaerobic bacteria. The bacteria associated with animal bites are Pasteurella species, S. aureus, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Streptococcus species and anaerobic bacteria. Cat bites have a higher incidence of deep infection than dog bites.

A different spectrum of bacteria is associated with marine animal bites—see Aetiology of water-immersed wound infections.