Animal Bites

Overview

4.7 out of 5 (215 Reviews)

Credits

1.50

Post-Assessment Questions

9

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

10 Apr 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

90 Minutes


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Activity Description

Animal bites present a complex clinical challenge due to the risk of infection, tissue damage, and potential exposure to serious diseases such as rabies and tetanus. These injuries range from minor, superficial abrasions to deep, high-risk wounds involving punctures, lacerations, or crushed tissue. The oral flora of animals introduces polymicrobial contamination, increasing the likelihood of infection if not properly managed. Factors such as the type of animal, location and depth of the wound, time elapsed since injury, and the patient’s immunization history are critical in determining the risk of complications. Failure to accurately assess and treat these wounds may result in poor healing, systemic infections, or preventable disease transmission.

This course provides clinicians with evidence-based strategies for comprehensively managing animal bites. Participants develop the skills to differentiate between superficial and high-risk wounds accurately, apply effective wound care techniques, and identify early signs of infection. Instruction includes guidance on antibiotic selection, postexposure prophylaxis protocols, and risk stratification models for infection management.  Collaborative practice with an interprofessional team—including pharmacists, infectious disease specialists, and public health professionals—further enhances decision-making and patient outcomes by integrating diverse expertise into care plans, promoting a holistic and coordinated approach to managing animal bite cases.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Differentiate between high-risk and low-risk bite wounds based on location, depth, and patient factors.

  • Screen patients for tetanus and rabies prophylaxis needs based on wound characteristics and exposure history.

  • Implement wound irrigation, debridement, delayed closure, and prophylactic antibiotics when indicated in animal bites.

  • Collaborate with interprofessional healthcare team members—including infectious disease specialists, surgeons, and public health officials—when managing complex animal bite cases.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Internal Medicine: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.50 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.50 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Pediatrics: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.50 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Deborah Z. on 2/27/2021

brandi m. on 3/29/2021

Brian B. on 5/8/2021

Lisa S. on 8/17/2021

Marie b. on 8/22/2021

Kristyn T. on 8/31/2021

Elizabeth M. on 9/6/2021

glenn s. on 9/6/2021

Janet L. on 9/24/2021

Anna L. on 11/22/2021

rebecca n. on 12/8/2021

Stephanie K. on 12/9/2021

Dr. Mallikarjuna S. on 12/14/2021

Kevin C. on 1/20/2022

Linda E. on 2/9/2022

Lisa S. on 2/16/2022

Jacob H. on 2/19/2022

Maria B. on 3/12/2022

Ehsan q. on 3/13/2022

Preeti S. on 3/16/2022

Thanks much

Dr. Mallikarjuna S. on 4/20/2022

Crissy C. on 4/25/2022

Scott S. on 5/10/2022

erika w. on 5/17/2022

Christine D. on 5/23/2022

Indumathi D. on 2/6/2023

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on 10/25/2022

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kwemc wjf

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Andrew L. on 3/8/2024

some of these questions are poorly worded. 30/F with Cat bite to face does not describe nature of wound well enough to give a strong recommendation

Patrick C. on 3/15/2024

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Unlimited Physician CME

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6718 CME activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7984.5 hours of CME.

Learn About Lifetime CME

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$73.50 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$329 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$499 per 1 year per user