PEP for bat exposure?

In Dr Grill’s interesting article on management of suspected rabies exposure,1 case 3 suggests that finding a bat in your bedroom means that you need postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). In a letter from David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, dated August 8, 2008,2 it is suggested that owing to recent research, the rabies PEP recommendations regarding bat exposure have changed. The main difference is that PEP is not recommended for scenarios in which someone is sleeping unattended in a room where a bat was found. Postexposure prophylaxis is indicated only when there is a direct contact with a bat. The letter goes on to define this direct contact. As usual, each case deserves individual consideration.

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