Is Post Exposure Prophylaxis recommended after all bat exposures?
Between 1990 and 2004, 46 cases of human rabies were reported in the U.S. ; 34 (74%) were due to a bat strain. Only four of these had a history of a known bite. Therefore, in addition to obvious bites, the CDC suggests that PEP be considered when contact with a bat may have occurred (e.g., wake up to a bat in the room, exposure of a bat to previously unattended child, mentally disabled person or intoxicated individual) and the bat is unavailable for testing.
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