Penetrating wound Penetrating wounds such as stabbing injuries carry micro-organisms and clothing debris deep into the wound. Cat bites are also penetrating wounds because of the animal's long front incisors. It has to be considered when assessing these wounds, particularly those of the hands, the joint spaces may have been penetrated. Puncture wounds contaminated by soil or animal faeces carry a high risk of infection by gram negative organisms such as Clostridium tetani or Clostridium Welchii. Bites Pastuerella multicoda is a common organism found in animal bites.
Human bites are another issue all together.
Small dogs which grip and shake their prey generate extensive, crushing injuries. Those which rip and tear create a mixture of crushing, penetrating and laceration. Others such as cats pounce and hold which creates deep penetrating wounds. Humans create a mixture of crushing, tearing and incising injuries worsened by a mixed mouth flora. An injury that results from shearing forces literally ripping the skin from the underlying tissues.