Citation

Popa D, Van Hoesen K. J. Emerg. Med. 2016; 51(5): 552-556.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California; Division of Hyperbaric Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California; Division of Wilderness Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2016.05.066

PMID

27623219

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shark bites are rare but sensational injuries that are covered in the lay press but are not well described in the medical literature. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 50-year-old man who sustained two deep puncture wounds to his thigh from a great white shark in the waters surrounding Isla de Guadalupe off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, during a caged SCUBA dive. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: We discuss our strategy of closing the wounds in a delayed primary fashion 24 hours after injury, our antibiotic choices, and the patient's course and review marine pathogens and appropriate antibiotic coverage.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en