Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in the emergency department: A monocentric retrospective observational study

Braunstein, Mareen und Wörnle, Markus (2024): Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in the emergency department: A monocentric retrospective observational study. In: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vol. 61, 102750

Abstract

Background

Emergency departments (ED) are frequently visited after suspected rabies exposure (SRE) and the potential need for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (R-PEP). However, data on the number of visits, patients' demographics, travel history and the medical treatment is still rare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the number of R-PEP and the appropriateness of medical management including wound treatment, vaccination regime and immunoglobulin application following SRE in a university hospital ED.

Method

We conducted a monocentric retrospective observational study on emergency patients treated in the ED of the LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany, between June 1st, 2023 and January 31st, 2024. Patients requiring post-exposure prophylaxis due to SRE abroad or in Germany were included. Demographic data, travel history, clinical findings, wound treatment, and R-PEP vaccination regimen were recorded.

Results

During the observation period of 245 days 43 patients presented to our ED for R-PEP. There was a total of 51 presentation appointments, as 5 patients returned for further treatment. Most patients (27, 52.9 %) presented at the ED on a Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday. 17 (39.5 %) patients had a category II exposure, and 26 (60.5 %) had a category III exposure. In our ED, there were 28 (55.0 %) active vaccinations and 23 (45.0 %) both active and passive vaccinations.

Conclusions

Our data show that patients frequently present for R-PEP in ED. Therefore, there is a high need for education on indication for R-PEP and for implementation of precise R-PEP treatment guidelines in daily clinical practice.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Faculties: Medicine > Medical Center of the University of Munich > Medical Clinic and Outpatient Clinic IV (Endocrinology, nephrology, other sections)
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 14778939
• Language: English
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 491502892