Bite on the hand equalled three days in the hospital. Why?

Hospital and department policy, I’d imagine.

Human bites are the WORST for infection.
Hepatitis and all sorts of nasty infections are a possibility.

Pumping you full of antibiotics for several days was the way to vigorously attack any potential bacterial or other infective possibilities. Glad you’re okay!

Was the guy tested for HIV? shiver

What did the medical staff give as a reason? I jabbed a quilting needle into a joint on my index finger once; the finger swelled to the size of a kielbasa within four hours and I spent two days in hospital as a well patient except for the massive doses of antibiotics.

Better safe than sorry.

The human mouth is a nasty one. I imagine that if your were bitten in the age of HIV that contracting that could have been a concern also.

Why weren’t you wearing your leather gloves when arresting someone???

The hospital gets a whole lot of money for as long as you are admitted. But were you forced? I bet you could have left any time you wanted.

You may have also been given antivirals because of Hepatitis and AIDS risk, not just bacterial infection. And Coloma is right. Ask your dentist about the flora in the human mouth. It is the worst type of bite you can get.

I’m sure they didn’t strap you in and force you to stay, but, your employer (who is the provider of the health care, I presume.) and health care provider would be liable if they didn’t take the precautions mandated. If they let you leave, you would have had to sign a AMA form (Against Medical Advice) which absolves the hospital, to some degree, of responsibility if you experience complications. These things may differ from State to State because of liability laws in medicine.

Was some of it also because of your employers workman’s comp policy (in addition to making sure you didn’t get any infections from the bite)? I know most companies have policies for what has to be done when an employee is hurt on the job.