Open AccessPericardial Effusion in a Homeless Man Due to Bartonella quintana
Author(s) -
PierreYves Levy,
PierreEdouard Fournier,
Maurizio Carta,
Didier Raoult
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.41.11.5291-5293.2003
Subject(s) - bartonella , coxiella burnetii , pericarditis , bartonellosis , rickettsiosis , bacillary angiomatosis , endocarditis , pericardial effusion , bacteremia , bartonella henselae , boutonneuse fever , rickettsia conorii , pericardial fluid , virology , rickettsia , biology , medicine , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , antibody , serology , virus
Bartonella quintana may cause trench fever, endocarditis, bacillary angiomatosis, and chronic bacteremia, and a reemergence among homeless populations in cities has been noted. Pericarditis from Rickettsia conorii and Coxiella burnetii infection has been described, but there have been no reports of pericarditis due to Bartonella spp. We report a case of pericardial effusion due to Bartonella quintana in a homeless man, diagnosed on the basis of PCR detection of Bartonella quintana in a pericardial biopsy sample and a fourfold rise in antibody titers. The patient recovered within 2 weeks with antibiotics active against bartonellae.