[Clinical and epidemiological analysis of rat bites in Buenos Aires].

We report 62 cases of rat bites that occurred between 2002 and 2008. Forty of these happened in Buenos Aires city, unrelated to social class or urban conditions. The bites occurring in daylight were related to invasion of the animal habitat by man, and to rat activity during the night. In 79% of the cases the rat bite was in the limbs and in 16% in the face. Five patients developed clinical manifestations of rat bite fever. We discuss the value of post exposition prophylaxis with antibiotics.