eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Bacterial Infections

Catscratch Disease: Follow-up

Author: Kerrie J Spoonemore, MD, PharmD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Dermatology, Pacific Medical Centers
Coauthor(s): Jill McKenzie, MD, Resident, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Gregory J Raugi, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington at Seattle; Chief, Dermatology Section, Primary and Specialty Care Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center of Seattle
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 4, 2008

Follow-up

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Pet quarantine, disposal, or euthanasia is unnecessary.
  • Although doxycycline treatment of cats is associated with decreased B henselae bacteremia, this treatment has not been shown to reduce the risk of cat-to-human transmission.
  • Feline B henselae bacteremia has been reported to last from weeks to months, with 100-fold fluctuations in bacteremic levels and intermittent negative cultures.
  • The natural history of feline infection and infectivity remains unknown.
  • Given the established link between flea infection and B henselae transmission, common sense measures seem prudent (eg, avoiding stray cats, keeping pets free of fleas).
 


More on Catscratch Disease

Overview: Catscratch Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Catscratch Disease
Treatment & Medication: Catscratch Disease
Follow-up: Catscratch Disease
Multimedia: Catscratch Disease
References
[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

References

  1. Parinaud H. Conjonctivite infectieuse transmise par les animaux. Ann Oculistique. 1889;101:252-253.

  2. Carithers HA. Cat-scratch disease; notes on its history. Am J Dis Child. Mar 1970;119(3):200-3. [Medline].

  3. Margileth AM. The diagnostic challenge of cat scratch disease. Infect Med. 1987;57-75.

  4. Debre R, Lamy M, Jammet ML. La maladie des griffes de chat. Semin Hop Paris. 1950;26:1895-901.

  5. Greer WE, Keefer CS. Cat-scratch fever; a disease entity. N Engl J Med. Apr 12 1951;244(15):545-8. [Medline].

  6. Carithers HA. Cat-scratch disease. An overview based on a study of 1,200 patients. Am J Dis Child. Nov 1985;139(11):1124-33. [Medline].

  7. Wear DJ, Margileth AM, Hadfield TL, Fischer GW, Schlagel CJ, King FM. Cat scratch disease: a bacterial infection. Science. Sep 30 1983;221(4618):1403-5. [Medline].

  8. Margileth AW, Wear DJ, Hadfield TL, Schlagel CJ, Spigel GT, Muhlbauer JE. Cat-scratch disease. Bacteria in skin at the primary inoculation site. JAMA. Aug 17 1984;252(7):928-31. [Medline].

  9. English CK, Wear DJ, Margileth AM, Lissner CR, Walsh GP. Cat-scratch disease. Isolation and culture of the bacterial agent. JAMA. Mar 4 1988;259(9):1347-52. [Medline].

  10. Alkan S, Morgan MB, Sandin RL, Moscinski LC, Ross CW. Dual role for Afipia felis and Rochalimaea henselae in cat-scratch disease. Lancet. Feb 11 1995;345(8946):385. [Medline].

  11. Zangwill KM, Hamilton DH, Perkins BA, Regnery RL, Plikaytis BD, Hadler JL, et al. Cat scratch disease in Connecticut. Epidemiology, risk factors, and evaluation of a new diagnostic test. N Engl J Med. Jul 1 1993;329(1):8-13. [Medline].

  12. Fouch B, Coventry S. A case of fatal disseminated Bartonella henselae infection (cat-scratch disease) with encephalitis. Arch Pathol Lab Med. Oct 2007;131(10):1591-4. [Medline].

  13. Gerber JE, Johnson JE, Scott MA, Madhusudhan KT. Fatal meningitis and encephalitis due to Bartonella henselae bacteria. J Forensic Sci. May 2002;47(3):640-4. [Medline].

  14. Moriarty RA, Margileth AM. Cat scratch disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. Sep 1987;1(3):575-90. [Medline].

  15. Carithers HA, Margileth AM. Cat-scratch disease. Acute encephalopathy and other neurologic manifestations. Am J Dis Child. Jan 1991;145(1):98-101. [Medline].

  16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Encephalitis associated with cat scratch disease--Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida, 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Dec 16 1994;43(49):909, 915-6. [Medline].

  17. Pampe D, Holt RM. Cat scratch disease with reversible encephalopathy. Tex Med. Feb 1984;80(2):38-9. [Medline].

  18. Pollen RH. Cat-scratch encephalitis. Neurology. Oct 1968;18(10):1031-3. [Medline].

  19. Pickerill RG, Milder JE. Transverse myelitis associated with cat-scratch disease in an adult. JAMA. Dec 18 1981;246(24):2840-1. [Medline].

  20. François J, Verriest G, De Laey JJ. Leber's idiopathic stellate retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol. Aug 1969;68(2):340-5. [Medline].

  21. Raoult D, Fournier PE, Drancourt M, Marrie TJ, Etienne J, Cosserat J, et al. Diagnosis of 22 new cases of Bartonella endocarditis. Ann Intern Med. Oct 15 1996;125(8):646-52. [Medline].

  22. Hajjaji N, Hocqueloux L, Kerdraon R, Bret L. Bone infection in cat-scratch disease: a review of the literature. J Infect. May 2007;54(5):417-21. [Medline].

  23. Mirakhur B, Shah SS, Ratner AJ, Goldstein SM, Bell LM, Kim JO. Cat scratch disease presenting as orbital abscess and osteomyelitis. J Clin Microbiol. Aug 2003;41(8):3991-3. [Medline].

  24. Margileth AM. Antibiotic therapy for cat-scratch disease: clinical study of therapeutic outcome in 268 patients and a review of the literature. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jun 1992;11(6):474-8. [Medline].

  25. Koehler JE, LeBoit PE, Egbert BM, Berger TG. Cutaneous vascular lesions and disseminated cat-scratch disease in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS- related complex. Ann Intern Med. Sep 15 1988;109(6):449-55. [Medline].

  26. Koehler JE, Sanchez MA, Garrido CS, Whitfeld MJ, Chen FM, Berger TG, et al. Molecular epidemiology of bartonella infections in patients with bacillary angiomatosis-peliosis. N Engl J Med. Dec 25 1997;337(26):1876-83. [Medline].

  27. Holley HP Jr. Successful treatment of cat-scratch disease with ciprofloxacin. JAMA. Mar 27 1991;265(12):1563-5. [Medline].

  28. Bogue CW, Wise JD, Gray GF, Edwards KM. Antibiotic therapy for cat-scratch disease?. JAMA. Aug 11 1989;262(6):813-6. [Medline].

  29. Bass JW, Freitas BC, Freitas AD, Sisler CL, Chan DS, Vincent JM, et al. Prospective randomized double blind placebo-controlled evaluation of azithromycin for treatment of cat-scratch disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jun 1998;17(6):447-52. [Medline].

  30. Dharnidharka VR, Richard GA, Neiberger RE, Fennell RS 3rd. Cat scratch disease and acute rejection after pediatric renal transplantation. Pediatr Transplant. Aug 2002;6(4):327-31. [Medline].

  31. Bass JW, Vincent JM, Person DA. The expanding spectrum of Bartonella infections: I. Bartonellosis and trench fever. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jan 1997;16(1):2-10. [Medline].

  32. Bass JW, Vincent JM, Person DA. The expanding spectrum of Bartonella infections: II. Cat-scratch disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Feb 1997;16(2):163-79. [Medline].

  33. Brenner DJ, Hollis DG, Moss CW, English CK, Hall GS, Vincent J, et al. Proposal of Afipia gen. nov., with Afipia felis sp. nov. (formerly the cat scratch disease bacillus), Afipia clevelandensis sp. nov. (formerly the Cleveland Clinic Foundation strain), Afipia broomeae sp. nov., and three unnamed genospecies. J Clin Microbiol. Nov 1991;29(11):2450-60. [Medline].

  34. Burnett JW. Cat scratch disease. Cutis. Dec 1991;48(6):443-4. [Medline].

  35. Cimolai N, Benoit L, Hill A, Lyons C. Bartonella henselae infection in British Columbia: evidence for an endemic disease among humans. Can J Microbiol. Oct 2000;46(10):908-12. [Medline].

  36. Conrad DA. Treatment of cat-scratch disease. Curr Opin Pediatr. Feb 2001;13(1):56-9. [Medline].

  37. Hipp SJ, O'Shields A, Fordham LA, Blatt J, Hamrick HJ, Henderson FW. Multifocal bone marrow involvement in cat-scratch disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J. May 2005;24(5):472-4. [Medline].

  38. Hussain S, Rathore MH. Cat scratch disease with epidural extension while on antimicrobial treatment. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2007;43(2):164-6. [Medline].

  39. Jackson LA, Perkins BA, Wenger JD. Cat scratch disease in the United States: an analysis of three national databases. Am J Public Health. Dec 1993;83(12):1707-11. [Medline].

  40. Jameson P, Greene C, Regnery R, Dryden M, Marks A, Brown J, et al. Prevalence of Bartonella henselae antibodies in pet cats throughout regions of North America. J Infect Dis. Oct 1995;172(4):1145-9. [Medline].

  41. Landau M, Kletter Y, Avidor B, Ephrat G, Ephros M, Brenner S, et al. Unusual eruption as a presenting symptom of cat scratch disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 1999;41(5 Pt 2):833-6. [Medline].

  42. Lerdluedeeporn P, Krogstad P, Roberts RL, Stiehm ER. Oral corticosteroids in cat-scratch disease. Clin Pediatr (Phila). Jan-Feb 2003;42(1):71-3. [Medline].

  43. Lewis DW, Tucker SH. Central nervous system involvement in cat scratch disease. Pediatrics. May 1986;77(5):714-21. [Medline].

  44. Manfredi R, Sabbatani S, Chiodo F. Bartonellosis: light and shadows in diagnostic and therapeutic issues. Clin Microbiol Infect. Mar 2005;11(3):167-9. [Medline].

  45. Margileth AM. Cat-scratch disease: current concepts. Hosp Med. 1985;57-93.

  46. Margileth AM. Dermatologic manifestations and update of cat scratch disease. Pediatr Dermatol. Feb 1988;5(1):1-9. [Medline].

  47. Margolis B, Kuzu I, Herrmann M, Raible MD, Hsi E, Alkan S. Rapid polymerase chain reaction-based confirmation of cat scratch disease and Bartonella henselae infection. Arch Pathol Lab Med. Jun 2003;127(6):706-10. [Medline].

  48. Regnery R, Tappero J. Unraveling mysteries associated with cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, and related syndromes. Emerg Infect Dis. Jan-Mar 1995;1(1):16-21. [Medline].

  49. Regnery RL, Olson JG, Perkins BA, Bibb W. Serological response to "Rochalimaea henselae" antigen in suspected cat-scratch disease. Lancet. Jun 13 1992;339(8807):1443-5. [Medline].

  50. Reynolds MG, Holman RC, Curns AT, O'Reilly M, McQuiston JH, Steiner CA. Epidemiology of cat-scratch disease hospitalizations among children in the United States. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Aug 2005;24(8):700-4. [Medline].

  51. Ridder GJ, Boedeker CC, Technau-Ihling K, Sander A. Cat-scratch disease: Otolaryngologic manifestations and management. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Mar 2005;132(3):353-8. [Medline].

  52. Rivello JJ. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological exercises. Case 1-1998. An 11-year-old boy with a seizure. N Engl J Med. Jan 8 1998;338(2):112-9. [Medline].

  53. Rocha JL, Pellegrino LN, Riella LV, Martins LT. Acute hemiplegia associated with cat-scratch disease. Braz J Infect Dis. Jun 2004;8(3):263-6. [Medline].

  54. Rolain JM, Gouriet F, Enea M, Aboud M, Raoult D. Detection by immunofluorescence assay of Bartonella henselae in lymph nodes from patients with cat scratch disease. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. Jul 2003;10(4):686-91. [Medline].

  55. Schiellerup P, Dyhr T, Rolain JM, Christensen M, Damsgaard R, Ethelberg S. Low seroprevalence of bartonella species in danish elite orienteers. Scand J Infect Dis. 2004;36(8):604-6. [Medline].

  56. Shinall EA. Cat-scratch disease: a review of the literature. Pediatr Dermatol. Mar 1990;7(1):11-8. [Medline].

  57. Tsukahara M, Tsuneoka H, Iino H, Ohno K, Murano I. Bartonella henselae infection from a dog. Lancet. Nov 21 1998;352(9141):1682. [Medline].

  58. Vincent JM, Demers DM, Bass JW. Infectious exanthems and unusual infections. Adolesc Med. Jun 2000;11(2):327-58. [Medline].

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Further Reading

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Keywords

catscratch fever, cat scratch fever subacute regional lymphadenitis, bartonellosis, Bartonella henselae, B henselae, CSD, catscratch antigen, CSA

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Kerrie J Spoonemore, MD, PharmD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Dermatology, Pacific Medical Centers
Kerrie J Spoonemore, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jill McKenzie, MD, Resident, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Jill McKenzie, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gregory J Raugi, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington at Seattle; Chief, Dermatology Section, Primary and Specialty Care Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center of Seattle
Gregory J Raugi, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Carrie L Kovarik, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Carrie L Kovarik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Van Perry, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center
Van Perry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.