Post exposure vaccination is given in?

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2021

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2021

Explanation

Rabies is a viral disease for which post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the standard of care after a potential exposure, such as an animal bite.
The rabies virus travels slowly from the wound site along the nerves to the central nervous system. This long incubation period provides a crucial window of opportunity for the vaccine to induce a protective immune response before the virus causes disease.
Effective PEP for rabies consists of immediate and thorough wound care, a series of rabies vaccine injections for active immunity, and, in most cases, the administration of rabies immune globulin (RIG) for immediate passive immunity.

Option A: Typhoid vaccination is a pre-exposure measure. It is not administered after exposure to the Salmonella Typhi bacteria.
Option B: Mumps is prevented by routine childhood immunization with the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, which is a pre-exposure strategy. Post-exposure vaccination is not effective in preventing the disease.
Option D: Similar to mumps, rubella is prevented by the pre-exposure MMR vaccine. Administering the vaccine after exposure will not prevent the illness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and vaccination strategies as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role in a suspected rabies exposure is immediate and thorough wound care (washing with soap and water for at least 15 minutes), followed by facilitating prompt administration of PEP as per protocol.
Patient education is critical. The nurse must explain the importance of adhering to the complete multi-dose vaccine schedule to ensure protection, as rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear.
What if? If a patient presents with a bite from a healthy domestic dog, the nurse should know that local public health guidelines may allow for a 10-day observation of the animal. If the animal remains healthy, PEP may not be necessary, avoiding unnecessary treatment.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question's core concept, which is 'post-exposure vaccination'.
This term refers to administering a vaccine after a person has already been exposed to a pathogen to prevent the disease from developing.
Review the options: Typhoid, Mumps, Rabies, and Rubella.
Recall the standard vaccination protocols for each disease. Mumps and Rubella are prevented by the MMR vaccine in childhood (pre-exposure). The Typhoid vaccine is for travelers (pre-exposure).
Identify Rabies as the classic example where vaccination is given after an animal bite (post-exposure) to prevent this fatal disease.
Therefore, select Rabies as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q18JChg72-9ABVF3Rl1CnI

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1696-1698

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 207-209

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1633-1635