Bacillary angiomatosis caused by Bartonella quintana in an human immunodeficiency virus positive patient

• Published in: Revista chilena de infectología Vol. 24; no. 2; p. 155
• Main Authors: Vásquez T, Patricia, Chanqueo C, Leonardo, García C, Patricia, Poggi M, Helena, Ferrés G, Marcela, Bustos M, Marisol, Piottante B, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Chile 01-04-2007
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - therapy; Angiomatosis, Bacillary - diagnosis; Angiomatosis, Bacillary - therapy; Bartonella quintana - isolation & purification; Humans; Male
• ISSN: 0716-1018

We report the first case of bacillary angiomatosis due to Bartonella quintana affecting a Chilean a HIV positive patient in Chile. He was a 27 years old, heterosexual male, indigent man known to be HIV positive serological status known from September, 2003, under irregular medical control. On April, 2005, he presented a progressive abscess in the frontal region and erythematous papules in the extremities, that extended to face, thorax and mucoses, becoming nodular and violaceous lesions. Bacillary angiomatosis diagnosis was initially sustained on account of the clinical manifestations, and was confirmed by serology and Warthin Starry staining from a skin biopsy. The etiological agent was identified as Bartonella quintana through universal RPC performed from a cutaneous nodule to detect 16S rRNA gen. Azithromycin plus ciprofloxacin was started, besides of anti retroviral therapy antiretroviral, with the lesions being progressively disappearing.