(See also Overview of Bartonella Infections. Overview of Bartonella Infections Bartonella species are gram-negative bacteria previously classified as Rickettsiae. They are facultative intracellular organisms that typically live within red blood cells (RBCs) and... read more )
The domestic cat, particularly kittens, is a major reservoir for B. henselae. The prevalence of B. henselae antibodies in US cats is 14 to 50%.
Almost all patients with cat-scratch disease report contact with cats, most of which are healthy. The specific location of the organism in the cat is unclear; however, periods of asymptomatic bacteremia occur in cycles. Infection is spread to humans via a bite or scratch. The cat flea transmits infection among cats and may be the cause of disease in humans who have not had contact with cats, although this theory is unproved. Children are most often affected.
Symptoms and Signs of Cat-Scratch Disease
Within 3 to 10 days after a bite or scratch, most patients with cat-scratch disease develop an erythematous, crusted, painless papule (rarely, a pustule) at the scratch site. Regional lymphadenopathy develops within 2 weeks. The nodes are initially firm and tender, later becoming fluctuant, and may drain with fistula formation. Fever, malaise, headache, and anorexia may accompany lymphadenopathy.
Unusual manifestations occur in 11 to 12% of patients:
Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (conjunctivitis associated with palpable preauricular nodes) in 6%
Neurologic manifestations (encephalopathy, seizures, neuroretinitis [causes acute unilateral vision loss], myelitis, paraplegia, cerebral arteritis) in 2%
Hepatosplenic granulomatous disease in < 1%
Patients may also present with a fever of unknown origin. B. henselae is one of the most common causes of culture-negative endocarditis Infective Endocarditis Infective endocarditis is infection of the endocardium, usually with bacteria (commonly, streptococci or staphylococci) or fungi. It may cause fever, heart murmurs, petechiae, anemia, embolic... read more 
, usually in patients with predisposing valvular heart disease. In immunosuppressed patients, B. henselae can cause bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis. Severe disseminated illness may occur in patients with AIDS.
Lymphadenopathy subsides spontaneously within 2 to 5 months. Complete recovery is usual, except in severe neurologic or hepatosplenic disease, which may be fatal or have residual effects.
Diagnosis of Cat-Scratch Disease
Acute and convalescent serologic testing or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
Sometimes lymph node biopsy
Diagnosis of cat-scratch disease is typically confirmed by positive serum antibody titers (testing acute and convalescent sera 6 weeks apart is recommended) or PCR testing of samples from lymph node aspirates.
Because similar lymphadenopathy may be caused by other infections (eg, tularemia Tularemia Tularemia is a febrile disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis; it may resemble typhoid fever. Symptoms are a primary local ulcerative lesion, regional lymphadenopathy... read more 
, mycobacterial infection Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections There are over 170 recognized species of mycobacteria, mostly environmental. Environmental exposure to many of these organisms is common, but most exposures do not cause infection and many infections... read more , brucellosis Brucellosis Brucellosis is caused by Brucella species, which are gram-negative bacteria. Symptoms begin as an acute febrile illness with few or no localized signs and may progress to a chronic stage... read more , fungal infection Overview of Fungal Infections Fungal infections are often classified as either Opportunistic Primary Opportunistic infections are those that develop mainly in immunocompromised hosts. Primary infections can develop in immunocompetent... read more , lymphogranuloma venereum Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a disease caused by 3 unique strains of Chlamydia trachomatis and characterized by a small, often asymptomatic skin lesion, followed by regional lymphadenopathy... read more ), testing for those organisms may be done if the diagnosis is not clearly cat-scratch disease.
Lymph node biopsy may be done if cancer is suspected or if the diagnosis of cat-scratch disease needs to be confirmed. Diagnosis is suggested by characteristic histopathologic findings (eg, suppurative granulomas) or detection of organisms by immunofluorescence.
Immunocompromised patients and patients with systemic symptoms should also have blood cultures (which require prolonged incubation). Lymph node aspirates are rarely culture-positive. However, Bartonella species can be isolated from cultures of lymph node biopsy specimens. Special culture media are often required.
Treatment of Cat-Scratch Disease
Local heat and analgesics
Sometimes antibiotics for immunocompromised patients
Treatment of cat-scratch disease in immunocompetent patients is local heat application and analgesics for this typically self-limited disease. If a lymph node is fluctuant, needle aspiration usually relieves the pain.
Antibiotic treatment is not clearly beneficial and generally should not be given for localized infection in immunocompetent patients. However, azithromycin or doxycycline is often given to reduce adenopathy and perhaps decrease the risk of systemic spread. A fluoroquinolone, rifampin, gentamicin, or doxycycline may be used for bacteremia in AIDS patients. Prolonged therapy (eg, weeks to months) is usually necessary for bacteremia to clear. In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities often do not correlate with clinical results.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
azithromycin |
Azasite, Zithromax, Zithromax Powder, Zithromax Single-Dose , Zithromax Tri-Pak, Zithromax Z-Pak, Zmax, Zmax Pediatric |
doxycycline |
Acticlate, Adoxa, Adoxa Pak, Avidoxy, Doryx, Doxal, Doxy 100, LYMEPAK, Mondoxyne NL, Monodox, Morgidox 1x, Morgidox 2x , Okebo, Oracea, Oraxyl, Periostat, TARGADOX, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs |
