Final answer:
The best action is to administer rabies immune globulin and begin the rabies vaccine series, disinfect the wound, and monitor for signs of infection to prevent potentially fatal neurological consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best action to take for a person bitten by a potentially rabid animal is to administer rabies immune globulin and begin the rabies vaccine series. The rabies immune globulin provides passive immunity by binding to and inactivating any rabies virus present in the tissue near the bite. The rabies vaccine, given over the course of several appointments (typically a 14-day period), helps the individual's immune system to produce an active response against the virus. If the individual is not previously vaccinated, this combination of passive and active immunization is critical as it takes time for the virus to travel from the site of the bite to the central nervous system (usually around a week), allowing enough time for the immune response to be effective in preventing the virus from entering nervous tissue and averting the potentially fatal neurological consequences of rabies.
It is also vital to disinfect the wound promptly with an antiseptic such as isopropanol and monitor for any signs of infection. Incorrect responses would be to initiate antibiotics without considering the risk of rabies or to suture the wound before ensuring that rabies is not a concern, as the closure of the wound could encapsulate the virus.