How do walker bites actually work?

This is something that has interested me for a while, now. I think it it was on Reddit that someone was on about the walkers’ saliva, but then I found a quote from Kirkman himself:

The rule is: WHATEVER it is that causes the zombies, is something everyone already has. If you stub your toe, get an infection and die, you turn into a zombie, UNLESS your brain is damaged. If someone shoots you in the head and you die, you're dead. A zombie bite kills you because of infection, or blood loss, not because of the zombie "virus."

Especially considering it wasn’t even a full chomp, should Lee’s bite really have killed him? Sure, it was probably serious enough to warrant an infection, but should it have been that deadly? I opted to amputate his arm, but was I actually doing him a disservice there?

Also, why did Lee take so long to die/turn (with or without amputation) in comparison to the likes of Kate or even Sarita? Was also going to mention Gabe until I remembered that he shot himself (and that wound looked like a nightmare to treat, so awaiting treatment likely would’ve been pointless, anyway).

Just doesn’t add up.

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