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Patrick L. Remington, MD; Thomas Shope, MD; John Andrews, MD

JAMA. 1985;254(1):67-69.

Abstract
It is important to minimize the costs and risks associated with unnecessary prophylaxis of health care workers. We studied the process of providing rabies postexposure prophylaxis following the 24-day hospitalization of a rabies-infected patient. Of 209 persons who cared for the patient, only 12 (6%) reported high-risk contact, and treatment was recommended for them. Unnecessary prophylaxis was limited to 35 persons (18%) who did not report high-risk contacts but who requested treatment because of their uncertainty about the degree of exposure. These persons, however, spent significantly more time with the patient compared with persons who did not request treatment. Maintaining strict isolation precautions when rabies is being considered, educating employees about the risks of transmission in this setting, carefully documenting exposures, and adhering to the guidelines for postexposure prophylaxis may help reduce excessive prophylaxis of health care workers.

(JAMA 1985;254:67-69)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta (Drs Remington and Andrews); the Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing (Dr Remington); and the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor (Dr Shope). Dr Remington is now with the Division of Nutrition, Center for Health Promotion and Education, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333 (Dr Remington).

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