Richmond doctor receives rabies prophylaxis after waking with a bat in her mouth

A Richmond gastroenterologist discovered a bat in her mouth early on Aug. 20 and sought medical care for possible rabies exposure. Dr. Krista Edelman, who practices at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates, said the bat entered her mouth while she was still asleep and did not bite her. Her husband captured the animal with gloves, a net and a bucket, and animal control later tested it for rabies.

After washing her mouth with soap, Dr. Edelman continued to work before contacting infectious disease specialist Dr. Nate Warner at VCU, who explained that exposure to a bat’s saliva on a mucous membrane can increase the risk of transmission. She then went to St. Mary’s Hospital, where emergency department medical director Dr. Adam Landsee administered the rabies vaccine series and rabies immunoglobulin, noting that no bite wound was present.

The bat tested negative, allowing Dr. Edelman to stop the treatment after receiving two vaccine doses. Dr. Landsee said bat-related rabies prophylaxis is common at the hospital and that bites from bats are often painless and may leave no visible wound, so the CDC and Virginia Department of Health do not require a bite to initiate treatment.

State public health veterinarian Julia Murphy emphasized that bats are ecologically valuable and should not be removed proactively, but advised residents to capture bats safely with gloves and contact animal control if exposure occurs. She noted that Virginia has recorded 19 rabies-positive bats this year, close to the average of 25 annually, and that increased reports likely reflect heightened public awareness.

Dr. Edelman shared her experience on social media to provide evidence-based guidance, saying the incident highlighted the need for clear instructions when people encounter wildlife in their homes.