This guideline was produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2020. There are no former guidelines to which this is an amendment or addition.

The guideline covers the assessment and management of human and common domestic animal bites in adults, young people and children. Its overall aim is to rationalise the use of antibiotics in bite injuries, and to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Topics covered include distinguishing between infected and non-infected wounds, when to offer antibiotic prophylaxis for non-infected bite wounds and how to treat bites which are suspected to be infected.

Only the paediatric guidance is summarised here. It sits alongside broader NICE guidance on other sources of bites and stings (box 1).

Human and Animal Bites: Antimicrobial Prescribing: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng184.

NICE guideline on other bites and stings: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/infections/bites-and-stings.

NHS advice for patients with animal or human bites: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/animal-and-human-bites/.

Public Health England advice on tetanus prone wounds: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/859519/Greenbook_chapter_30_Tetanus_January_2020.pdf.