Your patient was bitten on the hand by a wild raccoon he tried to capture. Which of the following is the first step in management for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first step in management for a wild animal bite is to wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 10 minutes to remove any dirt, debris, and potential pathogens that may be present on the wound surface. This helps reduce the risk of infection and may also help decrease the risk of developing rabies. After washing the wound, the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Irrigation with sterile saline may be necessary if the wound is dirty or if there is suspected foreign material still present after washing the wound. Antibiotic ointment may also be applied after cleaning the wound, but should not be the first step. Povidone-iodine or isopropyl alcohol swabs may be used to clean the skin around the wound, but are not appropriate for cleaning the wound itself.

Your Patient Was Bitten on the Hand by a Wild