A survey of hospitals managing human rabies cases in India.
A survey of 23 infectious diseases (ID) hospitals/ID wards of general hospitals was done during 2008-09 to assess the facilities for and management of rabies patients. All were Government hospitals and 0.5% of total beds was earmarked for rabies cases. The hospitals were mostly run by medical colleges (47.8%) and ID hospitals (30.4%) and located outside city limits (52.2%). The patients were admitted to 'rooms (39.1%)' and 'wards (43.5%)'. The general conditions of rabies sections i.e. sanitation and linen (65%), space and toilet (52% and 56%) and bed (47.8%) require improvements. There is a need to improve staff availability, use of personal protective wears, preventive vaccination of care providers and medicinal supplies. It is recommended to encourage hospitalization of human rabies cases to ensure a 'painless and dignified death' and this must be considered as a 'human rights' issue.
Sudarshan
M K
MK
Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Rabies in Asia Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. mksudarshan@gmail.com
Ashwath Narayana
D H
DH
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000592:standards*; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000592:standards*; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011818:Rabies / Q000628:therapy*