Report of an unusual case of persistent bacteremia by Bartonella bacilliformis in a splenectomized patient.

Abstract

We report a case of a 56-year-old man with a history of splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who developed persistent bacteremia in the acute phase of human bartonellosis. This patient did not develop hemolytic anemia. Only after several courses of antibiotic treatment was the infection eradicated. This is an unusual case of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection by Bartonella bacilliformis, which provides clinical evidence that the spleen is a critical effector organ of clearance of this infection as well as the effector organ of bartonellosis-associated hemolytic anemia.

• Authors: César Henríquez, Juan Carlos Hinojosa, Palmira Ventosilla, Beronica Infante, Jenny Merello, Vania Mallqui, Manuela Verastegui, Ciro Maguiña
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 71 Issue 1 Pg. 53-5 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15238689 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Bacterial

Topics

• Anemia, Hemolytic (etiology, therapy)
• Antigens, Bacterial (immunology)
• Bacteremia (etiology)
• Bartonella (immunology)
• Bartonella Infections (complications, epidemiology, microbiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Splenectomy (adverse effects)