Rabies

Rabies Guide presents guidance for clinicians handling patients with potential rabies exposure. Based upon the New York State Dept of Health 2010 guideline supplemented by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the app walks the provider through the decision steps considering which animal was involved, the nature of the bite or exposure, the availability of the animal for rabies laboratory testing, and details on both rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin treatment. The app addresses such common questions as: • is a raccoon bite high risk for rabies? • how does patient management differ when the animal involved is or is not captured? • how do I handle a stray dog bite? • on what days do I administer the 4 or 5 rabies vaccine injections? • what are the special considerations for bat exposures, children, or intoxicated persons? • if a domesticated animal is well after a 10 day observation, is rabies post-exposure prophylaxis necessary? • do bites from pet hamsters require post-exposure prophylaxis? This app is written and intended for practicing clinicians like ER and urgent care center docs, family physicians, pediatricians, and internists; for resident physician trainees; and for medical students. As an educator and clinician, I am interested in feedback and I would be grateful for guidance on improving the tool.