Treatment For Rabies Exposure

Human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) is the IgG fraction of plasma from human donors who have received multiple doses of rabies vaccine and have high levels of anti-rabies antibody. HRIG is administered once to previously unvaccinated persons exposed to a rabid animal to provide rabies virus neutralizing antibody coverage until the patient responds to vaccination by actively producing virus-neutralizing antibodies. HRIG is administered once on day 0 at the time postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is initiated, in conjunction with human rabies vaccine. If HRIG was not administered when vaccination was begun on day 0, it can be administered up to and including day 7 of the PEP series.

Local treatment of wounds should be done before receiving the rabies vaccine or the HRIG

Elimination of rabies virus at the site of the infection by chemical or physical means is an effective mechanism of protection. Local treatment of wounds involving possible exposure to rabies is recommended in all exposures.