Health department consultation can reduce inappropriate treatment
Dr. DeMaria said the paper may also convince physicians to consult with their health department for a final recommendation.
The authors note that a 2020 study in Cook County, Ill., found patients who received PEP were about 90% less likely to receive inappropriate treatment if their clinician had consulted with a health department.
“Anything that puts the risk in a context, like this paper does, is helpful,” he said.
Most physicians in the United States will never see a patient with rabies, the authors write, but animal bites are common – resulting in hundreds of thousands of primary care and emergency department visits each year when physicians must decide whether to administer PEP.
The study authors and Dr. DeMaria report no relevant financial relationships.