Current recommendations for the prophylaxis and treatment of rabies

Once onset of clinical rabies develops in an individual; death is inevitable. Thus, it is imperative that, for persons exposed or potentially exposed to rabies virus, prophylaxis must be instituted as soon as possible following the exposure. Local wound management is an essential part of postexposure rabies prophylaxis. Exposed persons should receive a recommended series of a tissue culture or cell culture origin vaccine. The number of doses and route of vaccination differ in various regions of the world and are discussed in the text. The administration of a rabies immune globulin is generally recommended in conjunction with the first dose of the rabies vaccine. Nerve tissue origin vaccines, although used extensively in some parts of the world, are not recommended if cell or tissue culture vaccines are available. Decision trees are presented in the text to aid in determining if rabies vaccine is necessary following a known or presumed exposure to the virus, along with a table outlining the various rabies vaccines available in the World. Rabies pre-exposure immunisation is recommended for those individuals at risk of exposure to the virus. Pre-exposure prophylaxis consists of 3 doses of an approved rabies vaccine administered either intramuscularly or intradermally on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28 with periodic booster doses or titre determination depending on the level of risk of potential exposure to the virus.