title: Bartonella-associated infections.
abstract: Bartonella-associated infections occur in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. The spectrum of diseases caused by Bartonella species has expanded and now includes cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and trench fever. Most Bartonella-associated infections that occur in North America and Europe are caused by B. henselae or B. quintana. The domestic cat serves as the major reservoir for B. henselae; the reservoir for the modern day B. quintana infection remains unknown. Methods used to diagnose Bartonella-associated infections include histopathologic analysis of biopsy specimens, culture of tissue samples, blood culture, and serology. Available data on treatment of Bartonella-associated infections remain relatively sparse but would suggest that erythromycin or doxycycline provide the best responses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Spach
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Koehler
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial