Abstract
We report three cases of cat bites. Case 1: A 47-year-old female had her hand bitten by her cat 6 days before visiting our institution. Subsequently, she developed redness and swelling on her left hand. Although she was treated with cephem antibiotics, the lesion did not improve. A physical examination revealed edematous swelling and redness together with punctate ulcers on the dorsal aspect of his left hand. Pasteurella sp. and Bacillus cereus were detected in bacterial culture samples collected from the ulcer. Although oral levofloxacin (500mg per day) produced a temporary improvement in the patient's symptoms, the swelling recurred two weeks after her initial visit. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated purulent arthritis and acute osteomyelitis. She underwent debridement and external skeletal fixation by orthopedists. Case 2: A 70-year-old female had her right index finger bitten by a stray cat 8 days before visiting our institution. Faropenem was administered at a clinic, but it was not effective. Her index finger displayed edematous swelling and redness. The administration of amoxicillin (300mg per day) for 11 days led to an improvement in the lesion. Case 3: A 43-year-old woman had her left hand bitten by her cat one day before visiting our institution. Erythematous swelling was seen on her left index finger and wrist. Her symptoms improved after 7 days' treatment with 300mg per day of amoxicillin. In Japan, 10.8% of families keep cats, and the total number of cats in Japan is estimated to be 9,740,000. As a result, cat bites are a common problem. Since cats' teeth are thin, cat bite wounds close easily. As this can lead to the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria like Pasteurella, clinicians should carefully observe patients with cat bite for signs of deep infection.Skin Research, 15: 274-277, 2016
