Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in a major tertiary hospital in Singapore

Abstract

Rabies is one of the most feared human diseases as it is almost uniformly fatal once clinical symptoms set in. The majority of deaths were due to a lack of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). We review the profile of travellers to Southeast Asia (SEA) seeking rabies PEP in Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Thirty-seven patients visited our travel clinic for rabies PEP from Dec 2010 to Dec 2013. Their mean age was 27.0 years. Twenty-four (65%) received rabies PEP within 24 hours of exposure. Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) was indicated in 28 cases (76%) but only half were administered; two-thirds were given in our clinic. Only two received rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis and both were non-residents. There is an urgent need to increase the awareness of potential rabies infection amongst Asian travellers.