Are there any instances where passive immunization would be more effective in fighting an infection than active immunization?
Yes. Passive immunization is done when there isn't time to mount an active immune response. This is done when a person will suffer or even die before adaptive immunity can kick in. Things like poisonous snake bites, spider bites, are treated with anti-venoms which are antibodies.
In addition, some people cannot make their own antibodies, so they have to administered antibodies from someone else. They have to take these weekly.