Rabies Guide 2010.pdf - the South African Veterinary Council

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packaging in secure rigid secondary, and where possible tertiary, containers filled with absorbent material (paper or sawdust) and direct communication with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases is essential before the specimen is dispatched by courier. All rabies diagnostics for suspected human cases are carried out by the Special Pathogens Unit of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service. Managing clinical rabies The almost universally futile nature of clinical rabies management makes it imperative that relatives of the victim be honestly counselled as to the extremely poor prognosis. Every effort must be made to ensure a patient’s comfort with adequate sedation, while high-quality supportive care is provided. It should be emphasised that although lifesupport measures may prolong the clinical course of disease, they are unlikely to result in survival, except in extremely rare occasions. 22,147, 183 The so-called Milwaukee protocol which was followed in the treatment of a rabies survivor patient is regarded as experimental. Concerted efforts must be made to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible and symptoms alleviated. This includes adequate sedation and pain relief with opioids and anxiolytic treatment, maintenance of nutrition and correction of fluidelectrolyte and acid-base balances, and mechanical respiration. 99 As multiple systems bear the brunt of terminal disease, careful monitoring is necessary. Antiviral drugs, particularly interferon and interferoninducers, have been employed with little success. 148 Corticosteroid use has not proven effective and antirabies vaccine has no proven benefit in treatment. Intensive nursing care may limit complications, such as bedsores and pneumonia. Infection control precautions are important for health workers responsible for managing these patients and should include both standard precautions (hand washing, gloves, mask, eye protection or a face shield, gown and plastic apron) and respiratory precautions (isolation in a private room preferably with an extraction fan, wearing respiratory protection and limiting the movement of the patient). 145,149 If a staff member is exposed to potentially contaminated secretions, e.g. patient saliva contamination of a mucous membrane, then they should immediately receive post-exposure prophylaxis, by flushing with copious clean water and vaccination according to their vaccination status. The rabies virus is not particularly resistant and is inactivated by heat, sunlight and desiccation. Objects soiled by infective secretions must be disinfected by boiling or autoclaving. 74 Disposable items used in treating patients should be incinerated. Surgical instruments should be autoclaved, while other items in the patient’s environment should be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant, containing chlorine (10 000 ppm available chlorine) or glutaraldehyde. The corpse of a rabies victim is thought to pose little risk but it is prudent to avoid embalming the body. 74 In a well documented case report of survival, that of a six-year old boy bitten by a rabid bat in the United States of America, it appears that careful monitoring and rapid supportive therapy to prevent hypoxia, intracranial hypertension, cardiac arrythmias, seizures and nosocomial infection, may have contributed to his recovery. 142 The only human case of surviving rabies without any history of receiving rabies prophylaxis was reported in a teenage girl from the United States who was exposed to a rabid bat. The patient developed rabies and a decision was made to institute experimental treatment which included an induced coma and administration of several drugs. 183 The patient recovered with some neurological sequelae but continual improvement of her condition has been noted. Serum antibody can only be detected after onset of clinical disease, or seven to 10 days after vaccine administration 44
Plate 31: This child appeared to be thirsty but pushed the glass away when water was offered. Such behaviour is referred to as hydrophobia Plate 32: A child with rabies showing marked anxiety Plate 33: Death is inevitable when rabies clinical signs become apparent and consoling the family members must be given priority Plate 34: Generalised seizures are seen in preterminal rabies. Seizures may be elicited by sensory stimuli such as air movement, sound and attempts to drink 45
Page 1: S e c o n d E d i t i o n 2 0 1 0 R
Page 4 and 5: Cover photo: Brain material, staine
Page 6 and 7: TRIBUTE TO GEORGE BISHOP He passed
Page 8 and 9: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Reviewers and cont
Page 10 and 11: RABIES IN SOUTH AFRICA Historical a
Page 12 and 13: Table 1: Cases of rabies-related vi
Page 14 and 15: mongoose cycle accidental victims
Page 16 and 17: Shedding of virus in saliva usually
Page 18 and 19: Fig. 3: The distribution of rabies
Page 20 and 21: Fig. 4: Geographical locations of r
Page 22 and 23: Transmission and epidemiology An un
Page 24 and 25: where rabies awareness is heightene
Page 26 and 27: Plate 12: Inquisitive cattle are of
Page 28 and 29: TABLE 4: Clinical signs reported in
Page 30 and 31: TABLE 6: Clinical signs reported in
Page 32 and 33: disease control if they suspect tha
Page 34 and 35: Plate 17: Terminal rabies can be co
Page 36 and 37: Plate18: Basic equipment needed for
Page 38 and 39: Reporting procedure and documentati
Page 40 and 41: RABIES IN HUMANS 32 Epidemiology of
Page 42 and 43: isk of transmission during slaughte
Page 44 and 45: 36 Fraudulent vaccines, nerve-tissu
Page 46 and 47: Human antirabies immunoglobulin The
Page 48 and 49: vaccine product be used for an enti
Page 50 and 51: Diagnosing human rabies The clinica
Page 54 and 55: RABIES LEGISLATION Human rabies and
Page 56 and 57: “All dogs and cats in the Republi
Page 58 and 59: Republic of South Africa Directorat
Page 60 and 61: Bite contact Dog vaccinated by a re
Page 62 and 63: Director: Veterinary Services _____
Page 64 and 65: RABIES CONTROL STRATEGIES 56 It is
Page 66 and 67: less labour-intensive than central-
Page 68 and 69: Additional measures enhancing rabie
Page 70 and 71: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS • How
Page 72 and 73: BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. WILKINSON, L. 1988.
Page 74 and 75: 35. BLANCOU, J., AUBERT, M.F.A. & A
Page 76 and 77: of the Advisory Committee on Immuni
Page 78 and 79: 1999. A study of human rabies immun
Page 80 and 81: 72 Control and Hospital Epidemiolog
Page 82 and 83: Nel, L.H. 2007. Molecular epidemiol
Page 85 and 86: Appendix 2 1. Assess the risk of t

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