Cat bite diagnosis and treatment information for healthcare professionals. Learn about feline bite wound care, infection risk, clinical documentation, and medical coding for cat bites and cat scratches. Find resources for accurate diagnosis coding and best practices for managing cat bite injuries in a clinical setting.
Also known as
Contact with other mammals
Bites and other injuries caused by mammals like cats.
Injuries, poisoning, and other external causes
Encompasses various injuries, including animal bites.
Accidental falls, burns, bites
Covers accidental injuries from various sources, including animal bites.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the bite on the face?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Injury from cat teeth. |
| Superficial skin damage by cat claws. |
| Infection from cat scratch or bite. |
Coding cat bite lacks anatomical site detail, impacting reimbursement and data analysis. CDI should query for location.
Cat scratch, often superficial, may be miscoded as a bite, leading to inflated injury severity metrics and inaccurate reporting.
Lack of proper documentation of infection status (cellulitis, lymphadenitis) post cat bite affects coding accuracy and compliance.
Q: What are the evidence-based best practices for antibiotic prophylaxis in managing a cat bite wound infection with Pasteurella multocida?
A: Cat bites often introduce Pasteurella multocida, a bacterium highly susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin). Current guidelines recommend amoxicillin-clavulanate as the first-line antibiotic prophylaxis for cat bite wounds, particularly those presenting with deep puncture wounds, involvement of tendons or joints, or location on the hands or feet. While other antibiotics like doxycycline or cefuroxime may be considered in penicillin-allergic patients, they are generally less effective against Pasteurella. Deep cultures and sensitivities should be obtained in cases of severe infection or if initial antibiotic therapy fails. Explore how our platform can assist with evidence-based antibiotic stewardship protocols for managing cat bite infections. Consider implementing a standardized approach to cat bite management in your practice based on current IDSA guidelines.
Q: How can I differentiate between a simple cat scratch and a cat bite requiring more aggressive wound management and antibiotic treatment?
A: Differentiating a superficial cat scratch from a deeper, more concerning bite wound is crucial for appropriate management. A simple cat scratch typically presents as a linear abrasion or shallow laceration, often healing without complications. Cat bite wounds, however, involve puncture wounds that penetrate deeper tissues, creating an anaerobic environment ideal for bacterial proliferation. Signs of infection, such as increasing erythema, swelling, pain, purulent drainage, lymphangitis, or regional lymphadenopathy, warrant prompt evaluation and potential antibiotic therapy. Cat bites involving the hand, particularly near joints, carry a higher risk of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Learn more about the nuances of wound assessment and the appropriate escalation pathways for complex cat bites. Consider implementing a standardized documentation process for cat-related injuries to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Patient presents with a cat bite wound, possibly a cat scratch, sustained on [date] at [location]. The patient reports [the mechanism of injury, e.g., being bitten while attempting to medicate the cat, scratched while playing]. Examination reveals a [description of the wound: puncture wound, laceration, scratch] located on the [body part]. The wound measures [length] x [width] x [depth] cm. Surrounding erythema, edema, or purulent drainage is [present/absent]. The patient's tetanus immunization status is [up-to-date/not up-to-date/unknown]. Pain is reported as [pain scale rating and description: e.g., 5/10, sharp, throbbing]. Neurovascular assessment of the affected extremity is intact. Differential diagnosis includes cellulitis, abscess, lymphangitis, cat scratch disease, and rabies. Given the presentation, the diagnosis of cat bite is confirmed. Treatment plan includes [wound irrigation, debridement, antibiotics if indicated, tetanus prophylaxis if indicated, pain management, and patient education regarding wound care and signs of infection]. Follow-up care is scheduled for [date/time]. ICD-10 code W54.0XXA is documented for a superficial bite by a cat, initial encounter, and appropriate additional codes will be added if complications arise. Patient education provided regarding the risk of infection associated with animal bites, importance of wound care, and signs and symptoms to monitor. The patient demonstrates understanding and verbalizes a plan to return if symptoms worsen.