Background and objectives: Human bite injuries, while less frequent than cat or dog bites, usually stem from aggressive behavior, sports, or sexual activity. It has been thought that human bites have a higher rate of infection than animal bites, but this view is likely skewed because of the frequency of closed fist injuries presenting to emergency rooms. Human bites to the genitalia also occur, but are not often reported because of embarrassment.
Goal of the study: We report a genital ulceration after a human bite to the penis and review appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers.
Study design: This article reports the development of a severe genital ulcer associated with a human bite to the penis secondarily infected, as verified by culture, with an oral flora organism Eikenella corrodens.
Results: The genital ulceration healed after appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Conclusions: Treatment of human bites focuses on obtaining an accurate history and performing a salient physical examination, as well as early irrigation and debridement. Transmission of communicable disease should be considered as a possible consequence. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment and primary closure of wounds continue to be areas of controversy.