The Most Dangerous Bite Isn’t From an Animal at All, Here’s Why

A recent case described by Dr. M. Venkateswaran, MD (General Medicine), has brought attention to the often-underestimated severity of human bite injuries, which can carry a higher infection risk than many animal bites. The incident involved a 25-year-old NGO worker who visited an old-age home and was unexpectedly bitten by a 60-year-old resident, resulting in a deep bite wound on her biceps, visible teeth marks, and a large hematoma.

While public concerns typically center around dog bites or other animal-related injuries, human bites account for approximately 3% of all bite wounds presented to emergency departments, according to StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) ¹.

Human Bites Carry High Infection Risk

Human bite wounds are considered among the most contaminated in clinical practice due to the diverse bacteria residing in the mouth. According to infectious disease literature, organisms commonly involved include:

• Eikenella corrodens

• Streptococcus species

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Anaerobic bacteria

This combination makes human bites potentially more infectious than animal bites, particularly dog bites, because of deeper inoculation and oral flora complexity.

According to the NCBI/StatPearls review on human bites, these infections may spread quickly into deeper structures such as muscle, tendon sheaths, joints, and nerves, sometimes leading to abscess formation or systemic illness if untreated. Human bites may also appear deceptively mild at first but worsen within hours due to bacterial proliferation.

Initial Management and Wound Care for Human Bites

Following recommended medical protocol, Dr. Venkateswaran ensured:

1. Immediate Wound Cleaning

The wound was washed thoroughly with running water and mild soap, a crucial first step to reduce bacterial load.

2. Wound Left Open

Human bites are not closed immediately, as early closure may trap bacteria and increase the risk of deep infection.

3. Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy

He prescribed the first-line treatment:

• Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid 625 mg, three times daily.

For patients allergic to penicillin, alternative regimens include:

• Doxycycline, combined with

• Metronidazole.

These recommendations align with guidelines referenced in StatPearls.

4. Assessment for Deep Tissue Damage

Dr. Venkateswaran examined the patient for involvement of:

• Muscle

• Tendons

• Nerves

No severe deep-tissue injury was detected in this case.

No Rabies Prophylaxis Required in Human Bites

The patient expressed concern about rabies transmission. Dr. Venkateswaran clarified that human-to-human transmission of rabies is extremely rare and not a reported route, so rabies vaccine is not routinely recommended for human bites.

The primary medical risk in such cases remains bacterial infection, not viral transmission.

Medical Context: Why Prompt Attention Matters in Human Bites

The NCBI/StatPearls review emphasizes that while human bites make up a small proportion of injuries, they carry a disproportionately high risk of serious complications due to the variety and aggressiveness of the bacteria involved. Complications can include:

• Cellulitis

• Abscess formation

• Septic arthritis

• Flexor tenosynovitis (especially in hand “fight bites”)

• Osteomyelitis

• Sepsis in severe, untreated cases

Because symptoms may initially appear mild, many patients delay seeking medical care, increasing complication risks.

Monitoring for spreading redness, fever, or discharge is essential in the following days.

Reference

1. Shin, Abigail M., and Daniel J. Dire. “Human Bites.” StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, 2024. Accessed November 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430764/

(Rh/TL/MSM)