[Human rabies prophylaxis in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, 2002]

Timely application of adequate treatment, speedy and thorough observation of animals, and streamlined information transfer provide quality rabies epidemiological surveillance in cases of attacks by animals. This study aims to evaluate rabies surveillance and the use of a computerized system in the surveillance process. A total of 4,168 attacks by animals were analyzed. The injuries were considered severe in 65.9% of cases. Dogs accounted for 87.6% of the severe cases, cats 10.5%, and bats 0.6%. Two treatment recording sites were analyzed. According to the rabies treatment record sheet, 41.9% of the treatments were adequate; in cases with negative observation, 7.4% showed adequate treatment. According to the vaccination program, 42.2% of the prescribed treatments were correct; in cases with negative observation, 3.2% received adequate treatment. The study concluded that there should be improved prescribing and recording of treatment, as well as a search for missing cases, in order to improve the quality of the services and avoid more severe outcomes from animal attacks.