RESUMEN
We report a case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis in a homeless man with congenital bicuspid aortic valve and significant cat exposure living in downtown San Diego, California.
Asunto(s)
Bartonella quintana/aislamiento & purificación , Endocarditis Bacteriana/microbiología , Fiebre de las Trincheras/patología , Animales , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Enfermedades de los Gatos/microbiología , Gatos , Endocarditis Bacteriana/terapia , Endocarditis Bacteriana/transmisión , Resultado Fatal , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Fiebre de las Trincheras/terapia , Fiebre de las Trincheras/transmisión , ZoonosisRESUMEN
Bartonella quintana, a pathogen that is restricted to human hosts and louse vectors, was first characterized as the agent of trench fever. The disease was described in 1915 on the basis of natural and experimental infections in soldiers. It is now recognized as a reemerging pathogen among homeless populations in cities in the United States and Europe and is responsible for a wide spectrum of conditions, including chronic bacteremia, endocarditis, and bacillary angiomatosis. Diagnosis is based on serologic analysis, culture, and molecular biology. Recent characterization of its genome allowed the development of modern diagnosis and typing methods. Guidelines for the treatment of B. quintana infections are presented.