Use of rabies immune globulin in seven urban emergency rooms in Pakistan

Background: Human rabies is a fatal infectious disease that is entirely preventable if correct and timely postexposure prophylaxis is given. Unfortunately, rabies immune globulin (RIG) administration, a life-saving biological, is often avoided by Emergency Room health care providers (HCPs).

Objective: To understand the practices of HCPs for administration of RIG in severe dog-bite exposures, which are common causes of emergency room visits in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 HCPs working in seven hospitals in three cities of Pakistan.

Results: Of 103 HCPs who responded to the questionnaires, 97.1% had administered rabies vaccine and 31.1% had administered ERIG in the past three years of their practice; three quarters said they would prefer to use HRIG if available; 35% said they would not inject wounds at all, 24.3% would only vaccinate a patient with severe dog bites, but not administer RIG. More than 55% were concerned about the cost of human and equine RIG.

Conclusion: Although there is awareness about use of RIG, this life saving biological is grossly underused because of poor availability in Emergency Rooms (ERs) even though stocked by local dealers. Animal bite centers must make RIG available for severe exposures.