Injection of antibodies (HRIG) to prevent rabies

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Injection of antibodies (HRIG) to prevent rabies

Human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) is a shot that is given as soon as possible after a likely exposure to rabies. HRIG contains rabies antibodies that immediately inactivate and control the rabies virus until the vaccine begins to work.

• HRIG is given only one time, at the beginning of treatment for rabies exposure.
• The full dose of HRIG is injected into the exposure wound and into the area around the wound. Any remaining dose of HRIG will be injected into a different muscle from the one where the vaccine shot will be given.¹
• HRIG is given only to people who have not received the rabies vaccine before their most recent exposure. People who previously received the vaccine already have some rabies antibodies, and another HRIG injection can make the postexposure vaccination series less effective.
• HRIG may cause pain at the site of the shot and a low-grade fever after the shot is given.

References

Citations

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). Human rabies prevention—United States 2008. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 57(Early Release): 1–28.

Credits

Last updated:	September 09, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC