According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 4.5 million dog bites every year for which 800,000 people seek medical attention. Dog bites commonly transmit bacteria and cause infections in humans. The most common bacteria associated with dog bites are Pasteurella multocida, Pasteurella canis, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp which include Streptococcus intermedius. Patients presenting more than 8 hours after injury usually have established infection, which can range from cellulitis to osteomyelitis. Approximately 85% percent of wounds that are seen early but appear uninfected actually harbor infection-producing bacteria and are usually treated with 3-5 days of prophylactic oral antibiotic therapy.
Dog bite medical expert witness specialties include infectious disease, pediatric infectious disease, veterinary medicine, urgent care medicine, emergency medicine, and microbiology.