Simian bites and bacterial infection.

Three patients with simian bites and resultant infection are described. The bacteriology of the wounds was diverse and included alpha-hemolytic streptococci and other streptococci in all wounds, enterococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterobacteriaceae. A literature review revealed brief mentions of 132 cases of simian bites in some of which Bacteroides species, Fusobacterium species, and Eikenella corrodens were isolated. Infection, despite antimicrobial therapy, and complications, such as osteomyelitis and flexion contractures, occurred frequently.