What causes bacillary angiomatosis? Bacillary angiomatosis is a gram-negative bacillary disease caused by Bartonella henselae and B. quintana. The disease can involve the skin, as well as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone. Cutaneous lesions consist of solitary or multiple red-to-violaceous, vascular-appearing papules and nodules that can simulate hemangiomas, pyogenic granulomas, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Organisms can be demonstrated in lesional biopsies by Warthin-Starry stain. An association between bacillary angiomatosis in humans and traumatic exposure to cats having B. henselae blood infection has been shown. Treatment is with erythromycin or doxycycline, but clarithromycin and azithromycin have also been used. |
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