A glance at rabies pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis for dog bites

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has a role in decreasing the need for immunoglobulin injection, because the real problems with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are the cost of the vaccine and immunoglobulin, as well as the availability of the immunoglobulin, especially in endemic areas, and if rabies is confirmed or the aggressor animal is not captured.[1] Although antibiotics have not been clearly shown to prevent infection after an animal bite, most physicians also suggest an adjunctive antibiotic prophylaxis for moderate or severe wounds. Such wounds include bites to the hand, head, neck, and genital region. We agree with the authors that the possible adverse effects of immunoglobulin are the issue that should be weighed in using this drug. However, second generation rabies vaccines, such as purified chick embryo vaccines and purified vero cells vaccines are safe, effective and cheaper than human diploid cell vaccine, and compared with the fact that rabies is fatal, vaccination side effects that occur are tolerable.