In-Hospital Rabies Exposure: Rapid Response & PEP
- PHOENIX — A swift, coordinated response to a bat sighting inside a hospital led to the identification of potential rabies exposures and the timely administration of post-exposure vaccinations,...
- Roxanne Newsom, a clinical infection preventionist at Corewell Health, emphasized the seriousness of such events."A bat flying around in a health care facility is a big deal," Newsom...
- Newsom also noted the particular vulnerability of some patients.
A hospital bat sighting triggered a thorough examination into potential rabies exposure, highlighting the critical need for rapid response and preventative measures. A multidisciplinary team swiftly mobilized,identifying at-risk patients and staff,and subsequently offered timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to curtail any potential infections. Learn how key players in infection control advocated for preventing the spread of rabies in this health setting. This story from News Directory 3 unpacks the critical importance of a coordinated approach, emphasizing the life-saving role of PEP and the need for swift action. Discover what’s next…
Multidisciplinary Team Responds to Potential Rabies Exposure after bat Sighting in Hospital
Updated Jun 18, 2025
PHOENIX — A swift, coordinated response to a bat sighting inside a hospital led to the identification of potential rabies exposures and the timely administration of post-exposure vaccinations, according to a recent study. The incident highlights the importance of rapid action and multidisciplinary collaboration in healthcare settings to prevent potential infections.
Roxanne Newsom, a clinical infection preventionist at Corewell Health, emphasized the seriousness of such events.”A bat flying around in a health care facility is a big deal,” Newsom told Healio. “If you can’t visually track that bat and whether it went into patient rooms or not, you have to assume that the bat did go into patient rooms.”
Data derived from Newsom R, et al. EP 06. Presented at: Association for professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology; June 16-18, 2025; Phoenix.
Newsom also noted the particular vulnerability of some patients. “if people are not able to speak for themselves…they can’t verbalize whether they were bitten or scratched by a bat,” she said.
The study, presented at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology conference, detailed how a multidisciplinary incident command center team was formed after a bat was spotted multiple times over five days in a progressive care unit. The team included members from the infection prevention and epidemiology department,business assurance,and the local health department. Their primary goal was to identify perhaps exposed patients and personnel and to set up a vaccination clinic.
The team identified three employees and 128 patients with potential exposure. Of those,one employee and 36 patients received timely and free post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). forty-seven individuals declined PEP, and another 47 became ineligible due to delays in making a decision.
Newsom stressed that prompt identification of potential exposures is crucial. “This is a very important issue,” she said, advocating for a rapid and organized response to prevent rabies in healthcare settings.
Another key point Newsom made was,”do not kill the bat,” as the brain tissue needs to be intact and fresh for testing.
For more data
Roxanne Newsom, RN, can be reached at roxanne.newsom@corewellhealth.org.