Bartonella infection: treatment and drug resistance

Silpak Biswas1, Jean-Marc Rolain

  • 1CNRS-IRD, UMR 6236, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 boulevard Jean-Moulin, Marseille cedex 05, France.

Future Microbiology
|December 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Bartonella bacteria cause serious human diseases, necessitating effective antibiotic treatments. This review examines Bartonella antibiotic susceptibility, resistance mechanisms, and treatment strategies for infections in humans and animals.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Bartonella species are Gram-negative bacteria adapted to mammalian hosts.
  • These bacteria cause significant human diseases like cat scratch disease and Carrion's disease.
  • Some Bartonella infections are fatal without prompt antibiotic intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Bartonella species.
  • To provide an overview of Bartonella infections in humans and animals.
  • To discuss current antibiotic treatment recommendations and resistance mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Bartonella antibiotic susceptibility studies.
  • Analysis of clinical and molecular data on Bartonella infections.
  • Synthesis of treatment guidelines and resistance mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic susceptibility varies among Bartonella species and strains.
  • Treatment failure can occur due to intrinsic resistance or acquired resistance mechanisms.
  • Specific antibiotic regimens are recommended based on the type of Bartonella infection.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding Bartonella antibiotic susceptibility is crucial for effective treatment.
  • Further research into resistance mechanisms is needed to combat treatment failures.
  • Optimized antibiotic strategies are essential for managing Bartonella infections.

Related Concept Videos

Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...