Surveillance of Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis in Greece: 4 Years Experience.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100965525 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1557-7759 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15303667 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Larchmont, NY : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., [2001-
    • Subject Terms:
      Post-Exposure Prophylaxis*; Immunoglobulins/*administration & dosage ; Rabies/*prevention & control ; Rabies Vaccines/*administration & dosage; Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; Animals, Wild ; Bites and Stings/epidemiology ; Cats ; Chiroptera ; Dogs ; Greece/epidemiology ; Humans ; Rabies/epidemiology ; Rabies Vaccines/immunology
    • Abstract:
      Rabies reemerged in Greek fauna during October 2012, 25 years after the last report in animals and 42 after the last human case. This study examined the administration of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans over the period 2012-2016. A total of 1,454 individuals (62.6% males) received PEP. The vast majority (92.3%) of regimens was initiated in high risk for animal rabies areas (11.1 PEP per 100,000 residents per year). Among the exposed, 77.0% presented at a healthcare setting during the first 24 h after the incident; more severe injuries were associated with faster presentation (p < 0.05). A vaccine series was administered in 54.5% of exposed persons whereas 43.7% received both vaccine and immunoglobulin and 1.7% immunoglobulin only. Exposure to stray dogs represented 68.4% of all incidents. In exposures occurring in nonhigh risk for rabies areas, bat was the second most frequently involved animal (13.4% of incidents). All dogs and cats evaluated by a veterinarian and laboratory-confirmed rabid were initially deemed suspect for rabies during clinical examination or according to history. No human rabies cases were recorded during the period of the study. Surveillance of PEP represents a valuable tool for aiding assessment of present and future demands in prophylaxis biologicals, outlining the epidemiological profile of exposures and planning effective policies for the management of exposure incidents.
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Greece; immunoglobulin; one health; postexposure prophylaxis; rabies; rabies vaccines
    • Accession Number:
      0 (Immunoglobulins)
      0 (Rabies Vaccines)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20180926 Date Completed: 20190815 Latest Revision: 20190815
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      10.1089/vbz.2018.2344
    • Accession Number:
      30251935