Mammalian bites – introducing the BITES assessment tool

Mammalian bite wounds are a common source of hospital admission in Australia. The rapid and systematic assessment of bite wounds enables appropriate patient care and follow-up to prevent serious complications. This article introduces an innovative B.I.T.E.S assessment tool for use in prehospital care, general practice or the emergency setting to enable rapid assessment of bite wounds. The five steps in the tool include identification of bite features (species and site), infections and injections, treatment and time, existing health considerations and signs and symptoms. The B.I.T.E.S assessment tool is easy to use and can positively improve patient outcomes in several ways.