Cat scratch disease: U.S. clinicians' experience and knowledge.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonotic infection caused by Bartonella henselae.
• CSD affects an estimated 12,500 individuals annually in the US.
• Limited data exists on US clinician experience and management of CSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical burden of CSD in the US.
• To evaluate primary care provider (PCP) knowledge and practices regarding CSD treatment and prevention.
• To identify potential gaps in CSD education for PCPs.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 3,011 US primary care providers (family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners) was conducted in 2014-2015.
• The survey assessed clinician experience, diagnosis rates, treatment choices, and prevention strategies for CSD.
• Data was analyzed to identify trends in CSD diagnosis and management among different regions and specialties.

Main Results:

• 37.2% of surveyed clinicians diagnosed at least one CSD case in the prior year.
• Clinicians in the Pacific and Southern regions, and those seeing pediatric patients, were more likely to diagnose CSD.
• Significant deviations from recommended treatment guidelines were observed, with 71.4% choosing antibiotics over monitoring for uncomplicated CSD.

Conclusions:

• A substantial number of US primary care providers encounter CSD cases annually.
• Current clinical practices indicate knowledge gaps in the recommended treatment and prevention of CSD.
• Targeted educational initiatives are needed to improve PCP management of CSD and Bartonella henselae infections.