Maggi RG, Mozayeni BR, Pultorak EL, Hegarty BC, Bradley JM, Correa M, Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonella spp. bacteremia and rheumatic symptoms in patients from Lyme disease-endemic region. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 May;18(5):783-91. doi: 10.3201/eid1805.111366. PMID: 22516098; PMCID: PMC3358077.
- Bartonella species infection associated with an expanding spectrum of symptoms and lesions
- Study included 296 patients evaluated by a rheumatologist
- High prevalence of Bartonella exposure: antibodies in 62%, bacteremia in 41.1%
- Common prior diagnoses included Lyme disease (46.6%), arthralgia/arthritis (20.6%), chronic fatigue (19.6%), and fibromyalgia (6.1%)
- B. henselae bacteremia associated with prior neurology referral and neurologic symptoms
- B. koehlerae bacteremia associated with infectious disease referral
- Cross-sectional design does not establish causality
- Authors conclude Bartonella’s potential contribution to neurologic symptoms, joint pain, and progressive arthropathy warrants further study
Gabriella True
