Abstract
Background
Solomon Islands is a country in the South Pacific Ocean with excellent scuba diving,
particularly among its remote islands that can be accessed by liveaboard dive boats.
Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) are found throughout the island nation and rarely attack humans.
Case Report
We present the case of a 42-year-old man who sustained a hand laceration after being
bitten by a blacktip reef shark. He underwent complex primary wound closure in an
austere environment and received prophylactic antibiotics. No infection developed
and he recovered fully.
Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?
We discuss our rationale in closing the wound aboard the dive boat, the choice of
antibiotics, and review marine pathogens.
Keywords
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References
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: September 30, 2020
Accepted:
September 2,
2020
Received in revised form:
July 27,
2020
Received:
June 15,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
