Gulacti, UmutUstun, CemalGurger, MehtapSahan, MustafaSatici, Omer2024-04-242024-04-2420121300-02922146-9040https://doi.org/10.5336/medsci.2011-26796https://hdl.handle.net/11468/20092Objective: This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of cases with rabies-suspected animal contact (RSAC) and the appropriateness of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (RPEP). Material and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the emergency departments of two general hospitals between January 2010 and August 2011. The management charts of cases with RSAC who were admitted to the emergency room were reviewed. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS for Windows (version 16.0). Results: Of 616 study cases, 464 (75.3%) were male and 152 (24.7%) were female. Cases in the subgroup aged 6-15 years had the highest risk for RSAC. Four hundred and thirty one (70%) cases lived in an urban area, and most cases had presented in the spring (36.9%) and summer (31.3%). Dogs were the most common animal (66.9%) causing RSAC with statistical significance (p=0.001). Bite was the most common way of contact with 454(73.7%) cases reaching statistical significance (p=0.001). Of 616 animals responsible for RSAC, 336 (54.6%) had no owner, while the others (280, 45.4%) had owners. RPEP was considered inappropriate in 529 (85.9%) cases according to the Rabies Prevention and Control Guidelines of the Ministry of Health, with statistical significance (p=0.001). The most frequent inappropriate procedure was the lack of rabies immunoglobulin administration in 303 (57.3%) cases. Conclusion: RSAC is an important public health problem in our region. There are some problems in the application of Rabies Prevention and Control Guidelines of the Ministry of Health and this guideline should be updated. Routine training of healthcare workers may be an effective solution against rabies.trinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessRabiesRabies VirusRabies VaccinesPrevention & ControlArticle323759765WOS:0003071999000222-s2.0-8485782170110.5336/medsci.2011-26796Q4N/A