Abstract
Between 76% and 94% of animal bites are due to dog bites. Approximately 8 cases of dog bites per month are admitted to Costa Rica in the different health centers, where half of the cases correspond to patients under 9 years old. The most commonly isolated microorganism is Pasteurella canis. There is still controversy in the need to give antibiotic prophylaxis in all cases, thus experts are agree that each case should be evaluated individually. Suturing a dog bite wound has been observed does not generate an increased risk of infection and produces better esthetic results.
Prophylaxis against tetanus and rabies should be guaranteed in those patients who do not have their complete vaccination schedule or in those patients with an increased risk of contracting the infection, either due to virus endemicity, mainly canine urban rabies or the risk that the animal responsible for the incident have the infection