Searching and Finding the Hidden Treasure: A Retrospective Analysis of Rickettsial Disease Among Dutch International Travelers.
Clin Infect Dis
; 72(7): 1171-1178, 2021 04 08.
Article
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| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31998942
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Rickettsial disease (RD) is a prevalent and underestimated cause of febrile illness worldwide, especially in the absence of an inoculation eschar. We attempted to quantify this underestimation at our clinic, by investigating past cases of febrile illness in travelers who had tested negative for leptospirosis, a disease that can initially present similarly to non-eschar RD, and which we routinely consider when other important causes of unspecified febrile illness have tested negative.METHODS:
We performed a retrospective analysis in febrile returned travelers from Asia, Africa, or the Americas between 2010 and 2017, who had tested negative for leptospirosis. Serologic immunofluorescence assays were performed for Orientia tsutsugamushi (scrub typhus), typhus group, and spotted fever group RD. We performed a medical records review of all patients who tested positive. In case of a fitting medical history, cases were deemed either confirmed (based on convalescent serology) or suspected (based on single serology).RESULTS:
Among 97 patients, convalescent serology was available in 16 (16.5%) patients, and a single serology in 81 (83.5%) patients. RD was the likely diagnosis in 8 of 16 (50.0%) patients with convalescent serology, and in 8 of 81 (9.9%) with single serology. Of the 16 confirmed/suspected cases, 11 (69%) had been missed and 7 (44%) had not received adequate empiric antibiotic therapy.CONCLUSIONS:
This study shows that non-eschar RD is an important and poorly recognized cause of illness in travelers, even in a specialized travel clinic. A lower threshold to test and treat for RD is warranted in returning travelers with febrile illness.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Infecciones por Rickettsia
/
Tifus por Ácaros
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
/
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Infect Dis
Asunto de la revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Países Bajos