The cost of preventing rabies at any cost: post-exposure prophylaxis for occult bat contact

Abstract

Investigations conducted by public health in Quebec, Canada, following report of human exposure to a bat were reviewed to evaluate the implementation of the recommendation for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (RPEP) for household bat exposure (without documented direct contact). Of all RPEP recommended, 12% was for direct bat contact with bite, 7% for direct bat contact without known bite and 81% for household exposure. When bat was not available for testing, RPEP was almost always recommended. Household bat exposure has become the most frequent reason for RPEP administration. Given the rarity of rabies, RPEP recommendations related to household bat exposure may warrant review.