title: Treatment of cat-scratch disease.
abstract: Cat-scratch disease is an infection caused by Bartonella henselae, a fastidious gram-negative bacillus acquired from exposure to an infected kitten or cat. The most common manifestation of human disease is lymphadenitis. Atypical forms of infection include Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, stellate neuroretinitis, persistent fever without localizing signs, hepatosplenic infection, encephalopathy, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis. Immunocompromised individuals with B. hensalae infection may develop bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, and relapsing bacteremia with fever syndrome. The bacillus is susceptible to several antibacterial agents in vitro, including penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, and rifampin. Greatest clinical efficacy has been observed following treatment with rifampin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, clarithromycin, and azithromycin. In one placebo-controlled study, azithromycin therapy was associated with more rapid diminution in size of infected lymph nodes. The majority of cases of cat-scratch disease occurring in normal hosts do not require anti-infective therapy for resolution of infection.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Pediatrics, 78229-3900, USA. conradd@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Conrad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018416:Bartonella henselae; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin