The goals of bite wound management

The goals of bite wound management are the treatment or prevention of infection and minimization of soft tissue damage. Many treatment algorithms, which are largely based on expert opinion, focus on timely wound cleaning, irrigation, debridement, and closure if appropriate. The wound should be cleansed with clean water and gent1e soap to remove any visible dirt. Soaking the injury or using alcohol or peroxide is not recommended because of the potential for further tissue injury. Irrigation with a saline lavage can be administered with a 30-mL syringe and 18-gauge intravenous catheter. Debridement is indicated for the removal of any foreign body or devitalized tissue. Edematous wounds should be passively elevated to encourage lymphatic drainage and accelerate healing