title: [Activities at the Rome Anti-Rabies Center in 2000: analysis and proposals].
abstract: The Authors analyzed data from the 1,817 patients (mean age 35.3 +/- 20.6, median 32) treated at the Antirabies Centre of Rome in the year 2000; of these 8.9% were immigrants. Dogs (84.1%) and cats (9.8%) were responsible for most bites. Stray animals were 39.9%, with an owner 58.3% and those without data 1.8%. Over 1/3 of patients could not refer the cause of bite. Most patients (93.0%) went first to hospital, where tetanus prophylaxis was administered preferably by immunoglobulins (25.0%) instead of vaccine (6.6%). Antirabies vaccine (HDCV and/or DEV) was prescribed to 777 patients (42.8%) and administered to 642 (35.3%), but only 296 (16.3%) of them received at least 5 doses. Veterinary observation always confirmed the absence of rabies in central Italy. Immunoglobulins were prescribed only to 14 patients. The data shown in this study emphasize the opportunity to differentiate the Italian antirabies protocol according to the geographic area.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sticca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fara
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin