A fatal rabies case and experiences of a mass post exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers

In this study 109 HCWs and eight household contacts were PEP candidates. Contact persons without infection control precautions were in Group I (high risk-82 cases). HCWs indirectly exposed to environmental surfaces were classified in Group II (low risk-35 cases). PEP schedule was rabies vaccine (RBV) + equine rabies immunoglobulin (eRIG) in Group I and only RBV in Group II. Local and systemic AE were observed in all cases. Efficacy of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was determined by rabies development in a six month follow-up. 585 doses of RBV have been used in 117 cases and eRIG has been used in 82 cases. 32 Nurses (39%); 22 emergency medicine technicians (26.8%); 12 doctors (14%); six laboratory technicians (0.07%); six radiology technicians (0.07%); four cleaners (0.05%) were in Group I (82 cases), respectively. One doctor, laboratory technician, nurse and radiology technician (0.02%); two emergency medicine technicians (0.04%) and nine cleaners (25.7%) were in Group II (35 cases), respectively. Routes of transmission were blood in five (0.06%); saliva in 14 (17%); sweat in 50 (61%); CSF/serum in five (0.06%); sexual intercourse in one (0.01%); personal equipment in seven (0.09%) in Group I, respectively. Indirect contact was the only route in Group II. The most common local and systemic AE were seen in Group I; pain at injection side (19 cases) and fever (13 cases). Both of them showed statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Allergic rash has been seen at only ...
Source: Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research