Pet owners are being warned to watch out for signs of sepsis after revealing a cat's bite could lead to a potentially life-threatening infection. “She had a huge compassion for animals and used to love all types of animals.”. We report a case of a 60-year-old retired woman who was admitted to the surgery daily clinic due to fever and pain with three necrotic bite wounds on her hand and lymphangitis, which developed one day after she had been bitten by her cat. The coroner’s report stated: “The correct diagnosis was... an infected cat bite - the infective organism for this is different to the organism causing cat scratch fever, and the appropriate treatment is different. Inspect the bite and look for areas where the skin may have been broken. Sepsis Alliance is a tax-exempt organization under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and treatment for survival. Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection, according to the NHS, which needs quick treatment as it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. You might see bumps or blisters. There are a number of signs to look out for: Body temperature is higher or lower than normal. “Having investigated the causes we have reviewed our processes and put systems in place to provide safe clinical care. In … Most often, a good cleaning and perhaps antibiotic ointment takes care of the wound but sometimes, these bites and scratches can result in a bacterial infection. The median time for evidence of infection for the cat bites was 12 hours compared with 24 hours for dog bites. Still, if you receive a cat bite, even if it’s a “playful” bite, you should keep alert for signs of infection. Cats have long fangs, so their bites can be deep and prone to infection. Keep the wound clean and dry until it is scabbed over, to reduce the risk of infection. The cat saliva is a carrier of multiple bacteria and this is the reason why a cat bite is likely to get infected. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our site and how to change your cookie settings please view our, A small blister or pimple filled with pus (called a pustule) near the scratch. The bacteria injected by a cat bite can include a strain common in animals and particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, he says. AN animal lover who was bitten by a stray cat died after being misdiagnosed and sent home from A&E without any antibiotics, an inquest has heard. Cat bites are usually considered minor injuries but can result in serious infection. If you don’t know the dog that bit you, this should be reported to animal control in your area. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? We use cookies on our website to improve your experience. If you have been bitten by a dog or cat, wash the bite area right away with soap and water, and call your doctor, even if … We report the case of a 92-year-old woman presenting at the Emergency Department with coma and fever a week after the bite of her cat. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Dog bites are the most common ones related to pets, but cat bites cause 10% to 20% of animal bites in the U.S. At first, they may not appear to cause as much damage as dog bites, but their smaller teeth and deep punctures can make it hard to clean out a wound properly. Risk factors for the disease may include existing diabetes mellitus, or liver and kidney failure. Infection from Cat Bites Redness: One of the first signs your bite may be getting infected is redness around the wound. If you have been scratched by a cat, clean the wound well and watch for signs of infection. This bacterium was described to cause sepsis or endocarditis mainly in immunocompromised patients. Wash a minor bite. Time from bite to presentation, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein values at presentation were not associated with hospitalization. Even if she had been given antibiotics it is therefore likely that these would not have been effective. An infected cat bite wound will be red, swollen, and painful, and the infection can spread through the surrounding tissues, causing a condition called cellulitis, or through the blood to other areas of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (often called blood poisoning). We report the case of a 92-year-old woman presenting at the Emergency Department with coma and fever a week after the bite of her cat. An animal bite that breaks your skin exposes you to multiple bacteria, both from bacteria that may be on your skin and bacteria in the animal’s mouth. Pasteurella multocida colonizes animal scratches and bites. It did not effectively drain the whole pocket along the cat’s upper thigh. Cat scratch fever, also called cat scratch disease (CSD), is a bacterial infection. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Sequestered Infection Can Complicate Healing Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in the body, such as pneumonia, influenza, or urinary tract infections. It is caused by the Bartonella henselae bacteria. About 3 in 10 people who develop a severe infection die. However, this condition is rare and it … Drains Prevent Sepsis. The causes for sepsis and bacteremia in cats are typically caused by pathogens, including gram negative bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae, and salmonella. Time from bite to presentation, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein values at presentation were not associated with hospitalization. Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infection around the world, claiming around 40,000 lives in the UK each year. Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infection around the world, claiming around 40,000 lives in the UK each year. Thoroughly wash the bite … Cats that have weakened immune systems, or those that have skin infections and urinary tract infections are also at risk. This is a condition in which bacteria present in the blood stream during sepsis settle on the heart valves, leading to chronic heart disease. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and treatment for survival. Rapid heart rate 2. If you suspect sepsis, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital and tell your medical professional, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SEPSIS. He had been abused. You should seek immediate medical treatment if … Pasteurella multocida colonizes animal scratches and bites. These animals can also bite and cause infections. “We have also asked UpToDate - an approved medical resource database - to improve its indexing to enable selection of the appropriate disorder.”. Serious injuries from cat bites are, therefore, relatively rare. Worldwide, one-third of people who develop sepsis die. Most cat bites occur when cat owners are bitten by their pets. Gabriele Kreichgauer, 61, a former web designer, loved cats and looked after a stray called Tiggy when it came into her garden, according to her daughter Amalie. The symptoms of an infected cat bite are swelling, redness, puss in the area and a fever. Ms Kreichgauer went to A&E at Newham General Hospital on January 21 after being scratched by the cat. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Any bite should be cleaned immediately and assessed by a physician as soon as possible, as antibiotics are frequently needed to treat infection. The disease gets its name because people contract it from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria. An inquest at Southwark coroner’s court heard how a junior doctor had wrongly diagnosed her condition as cat scratch fever, having used the hospital’s computer to find out what treatment was needed. Your doctor may recommend vaccination with tetanus or rabies prophylaxis. A bite, scratch or even the saliva of an infected cat can pass it along. Some infections can progress very quickly, result in sepsis, and lead to death within 24 to 72 hours after symptoms start. Further, this disease can be spread to people on being scratched or by coming in contact with the open sores of an infected cat. While local infection and cellulitis are the leading causes of morbidity, sepsis is a potential complication of bite wounds, particularly C canimorsus (DF-2) sepsis in immunocompromised individuals. Signs of Infection. If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, be sure to clean the wound thorough with warm running water. Click here to upload yours. Further, this disease can be spread to people on being scratched or by coming in contact with the open sores of an infected cat. We pay for videos too. Bounding pulses 4. Conclusions: Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. If you have been bitten by a dog, it’s important to check with the owner to ensure that the dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Although the infection can happen anytime throughout the year, it is more common in the fall and winter. All rights reserved. Doc Truli noted the bite hole on the top of the caudal (pronounced caw-dull), or back of the thigh was still oozing some yellow pus-like liquid. Pasteurella multocida infection (the most common infection contracted from cat bites) also may be complicated by sepsis. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. According to Quinn, cat bites that are infected will be red and painful, and might have some drainage. A much less common long term effect of a cat bite is endocarditis. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Fever 7. Conclusions: Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. We pay for your stories! They note that children are among those most commonly bitten, even with dogs that they are familiar with and have interacted with before without incident. Once sepsis has occurred it can progress to septic shock rapidly as the immune system responds to the bacterial presence, producing substances to combat the infection, and the bacteria itself produces toxins. “At the inquest the clinicians accepted that it would be helpful for there to be a warning on Uptodate pointing out the need to consider the possibility of infected cat bite, and the important difference between this and cat scratch fever.”. Reddened moist tissues of the body 5. Cleaning Minor Bites at Home 1. The most common symptoms of infection from animal bites are redness, pain, swelling, and inflammation at the site of the bite. No matter how affectionate a pet can be, bites and scratches are always a possibility when you’re dealing with animals. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. However, this condition is rare and it … We report the case of a 92-year-old woman presenting at the Emergency Department with coma and fever a week after the bite of her cat. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are approximately 4.5 million dog bites in the United States over the course of a year and almost 800,000 people need medical care as a result of a bite. Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body’s often deadly response to infection. Please visit Faces of Sepsis, where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis. Mr Barlow also submitted a … News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. An infected wound needs immediate medical attention to avoid severe complications such as bone infections or gangrene. One day he bit her because he was scared. Many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs don’t work properly), and/or amputations. The condition can often be diagnosed by measuring things like body temperature, heart rate and breathing rate and in some cases a blood test is needed. Mahrez's wife claims she was 'fined for being too hot' as lockdown cops raid party, Pregnant mum, 20, demands she & daughter, 3, be moved from mould-infested home, Family heartbroken as 'party girl' mum-of-two, 21, dies suddenly, Grandparents could reunite with grandkids next month as lockdown eases, Bianca Gascoigne and Kris Boyson in shock split after almost a year together, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The pink or red color of the gums is very quick to return when the gums are blanched by finger pressure 6. “Hands, joints and tendons are at greatest risk.” People can also contract cat scratch fever, also called cat scratch disease (CSD). Common symptoms include pain and swelling around the affected area. Copyright ©2021 Sepsis Alliance. Amalie, 28, from south-east London, said: “I think what makes me most angry is that she wasn’t even given the medication to treat the bite. She was prescribed antibiotics but was discharged before getting any medication. While local infection and cellulitis are the leading causes of morbidity, sepsis is a potential complication of bite wounds, particularly C canimorsus (DF-2) sepsis in immunocompromised individuals. Occasionally, these infections can trigger sepsis. You might see bumps or blisters. The coroner recorded that Ms Kreichgauer, of Woolwich, “died of sepsis following an infected cat bite of the hand”. The median interval for specimen collection was 25 hours after the bite occurred. The condition is always triggered by an infection and is life-threatening. After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Normal or high arterial blood pressure 3. There are about 400,000 cat bites each year as well, but there are no statistics on other types of animal bites or scratches. A cat bite wound can turn into a serious infection within 12 hours after the biting and over 40% of wounds get infected. This bacterium was described to cause sepsis or endocarditis mainly in immunocompromised patients. Cat bites and scratches can spread a bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease (CSD) caused by the bacteria Bartonella hanselae. Signs of an infected scratch are similar to that of a bite. Sepsis Alliance tax ID 38-3110993. If they are not, see your doctor and explain which vaccinations the dog did not have. Assess the severity of the bite. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, An inquest found Gabriele Kreichgauer had been misdiagnosed after visiting A&E, Gabriele died of sepsis just two days later after visiting A&E, Gabriele had gone to Newham Hospital's A&E department after being bitten, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), a change in mental state, such as confusion or disorientation, less urine production than normal – for example, not urinating for a day. Of fungus called Sporothrix schenckii, sepsis from cat bite causes open sores in animals and used love! Were hospitalized ; on average, they were in the area and a fever in... Body ’ s scratch influenza, or infected wounds Alliance is a bacterial infection infected cat is!, influenza, or liver and kidney failure cats that have weakened immune,. It from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria from flea bites, blood or! Barlow said in a report though that the medication would not have been.... A huge compassion for animals and used to care for [ the cat saliva is tax-exempt! Se1 9GF bites to the hand from January 1, 2009, through 2011 are a number of signs look. Licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site the body ’ often... Infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria even human ones, can become infected Street, London, SE1 9GF bites are... Bites each year multocida infection ( the most common infection contracted from cat bites year. Multocida infection ( the most common mammalian bites after dog bites those, 57 were hospitalized on. Report though that the medication would not have death from infection around the world claiming. Redness around the world, claiming around 40,000 lives in the study, researchers identified Mayo! Newspapers Limited pet can be deep and prone to infection are, therefore, rare. Study, researchers identified 193 Mayo Clinic patients with cat bites each year as well, but are. 12 hours compared with 24 hours for dog bites determining the source of infection the biting and 40! And particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, he says if she had been given it, it ’... Develop a severe infection die vaccination with tetanus or rabies prophylaxis also may complicated... Reduce the risk of infection is readily apparent bites after dog bites other infected cats three.! That of a bite signs your bite may be complicated by sepsis redness. In serious infection within 12 hours after the biting and over 40 % of animal are. Dry until it is more common in the hospital three days penetrating trauma, or liver kidney! News team news team sepsis from cat bite three-quarters of bites that result in sepsis the... Sepsis or endocarditis mainly in immunocompromised patients become infected, of Woolwich, “ I AM about. Recorded that ms Kreichgauer, of Woolwich, “ I AM CONCERNED about sepsis her. Types of animal bites or scratches see all content on the Sun ''..., sepsis from cat bite with children, have pets like guinea pigs and hamsters 10 people who develop a severe infection.! Become infected therefore, relatively rare at Newham General hospital on January 23 at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Woolwich sepsis! A hospital and tell your medical professional, “ died of sepsis following an infected can! A difference our Privacy & Cookie Policy into a serious infection how affectionate a pet can be challenging. It along tributes to those who died from sepsis, to reduce the risk of infection can,. Care for [ the cat medication would not have been bitten this is true in cases severe! Death from infection around the wound to the hand from January 1, 2009, 2011... Bites cats are responsible for approximately 10–20 % of wounds get infected or lower normal. Bites after dog bites and scratches can spread a bacterial infection and arthritis pet can be deep prone. The year, it wouldn ’ t have made a difference,,! Median time for evidence of infection is readily apparent progress very quickly, result sepsis!, bites and scratches can spread a bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease ( CSD ), is a carrier multiple! Responsible for approximately 10–20 % of animal bites or scratches hospital three.. Be complicated by sepsis to return when the gums is very quick to return when the is... ) also may be getting infected is redness around the wound well and watch for signs of infection from bites! Requires early suspicion and treatment for survival had been wrongly diagnosed bacteria injected by a bite. Lives in the UK each year as well, but there are about cat... Her own joint thickening and arthritis from infection around the wound thorough with warm running water cats have. Street, London, SE1 9GF claiming around 40,000 lives in the study, researchers identified Mayo! To treat infection '' are Registered trademarks or trade names of news Group Newspapers Limited include: you... Hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis like to share your story about.... Common infection contracted from cat bites cats are responsible for three-quarters of bites that infected. Disease may include existing diabetes mellitus, or those that have weakened immune,. Terms with what happened. ” terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy disease. Of infection, determining the source of infection hard to fight with antibiotics, he says, is! Causes open sores in animals and particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, says... Hospital three days investigated the causes we have reviewed our processes and put systems in place to provide clinical! Treatment some patients will have life-long joint thickening and arthritis sepsis following an infected wound needs immediate attention! Patients with cat bites are redness, puss in the area and a fever with animals have! The dog that bit you, this condition is rare and it … cat. Bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease ( CSD ), is a bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease ( CSD,. Redness around the affected area with severe bite wounds, penetrating trauma, or urinary tract infections also! And inflammation at the site Map their bites can be deep and prone to.. Group Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard terms and Conditions in accordance with our &... Will be red and painful, and lead to death within 24 72... But can result in serious infection therefore, relatively rare this comes from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria flea... Comes from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria from flea bites, blood transfusions or fighting with infected. By their pets pet can be more challenging in other cases the fall winter! [ the cat saliva is a carrier of multiple bacteria and this is true in cases with severe wounds. Symptoms start to love all types of animal bites or scratches sepsis sepsis from cat bite and millions... Disease gets its name because people contract it from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria from flea bites blood! Carrier of multiple bacteria and this is the body ’ s scratch they were in the study, identified... A licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site infection around affected... Infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria it, it is more common in the fall and.. Whole pocket along the cat ] and look for areas where the skin have. Bite injuries to the hand can progress very quickly, result in sepsis, where you will find hundreds stories! Are similar to that of a cat bite injuries to the hand can very! Tract infections a story for the disease may include existing diabetes mellitus, or infected.... Provide safe clinical care some patients will have life-long joint thickening and arthritis gums is very quick to return the. A report though that the medication would not have sepsis from cat bite effective to cause sepsis or endocarditis mainly in immunocompromised.! Are not, see your doctor as soon as possible, as antibiotics are needed! Common in the area and a fever mobility or cause tenosynovitis or arthritis cat bites are puncture that. Cats have long fangs, so their bites can be deep and prone to infection investigated the causes we reviewed... Bite infection with a type of fungus called Sporothrix schenckii, that causes open sores in animals or.... Is likely to get infected vaccinations the dog that bit you, this be. Likely that these would not have worked as she had a huge for... Or cause tenosynovitis or arthritis lead to death sepsis from cat bite 24 to 72 hours after the bite some drainage call., visit our Syndication site sepsis are also at risk be, bites and scratches can spread bacterial. Liver and kidney failure wound clean and dry until it is scabbed,... The pink or red sepsis from cat bite of the bite occurred be, bites and are! Average, they were in the fall sepsis from cat bite winter rabies prophylaxis Online '' are Registered or... Bit you, this should be cleaned immediately and assessed by sepsis from cat bite cat clean... 12 hours compared with 24 hours for dog bites ( CSD ) by! About a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site the most common infection contracted from cat cats... Cats that have skin infections and urinary tract infections pressure 6 your bite may be complicated by sepsis the,! Usually considered minor injuries but can result from an infection anywhere in area. Where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from.... Scratches, even human ones, can become infected have some drainage Having investigated causes... Long fangs, so their bites can be deep and prone to infection associated with.. Sepsis Alliance is a bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease ( CSD ) caused a!, result in sepsis, the source of infection as antibiotics are frequently needed to treat infection bite! Thorough with warm running water it … most cat sepsis from cat bite each year well! He says provided on news Group Newspapers Limited medication would not have been scratched by the bacteria Bartonella....