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Volume 18, Number 5—May 2012
Research

Bartonella spp. Bacteremia and Rheumatic Symptoms in Patients from Lyme Disease–endemic Region

Ricardo G. Maggi, B. Robert Mozayeni, Elizabeth L. Pultorak, Barbara C. Hegarty, Julie M. Bradley, Maria Correa, and Edward B. BreitschwerdtComments to Author 
Author affiliations: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (R.G. Maggi, E.L. Pultorak, B.C. Hegarty, J.M. Bradley, M. Correa, E.B. Breitschwerdt); Translational Medicine Group, PC, North Bethesda, Maryland, USA (B.R. Mozayeni)

Main Article

Table 3

Factors associated with Bartonella spp. positivity by PCR, among 296 patients examined by a rheumatologist, Maryland–Washington, DC, USA, August 25, 2008–April 1, 2009*

Variable B. henselae, no. (%)

B. koehlerae, no. (%)

B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, no. (%)
Positive, n = 40 Negative, n = 256 p value† Positive, n = 54 Negative, n = 242 p value† Positive, n = 10 Negative, n = 286 p value†
Sex
F 24 (60.0) 181 (70.7) 0.17 38 (70.4) 167 (69.0) 0.84 7 (70.0) 198 (69.2) 0.99
M 16 (40.0) 75 (29.3) 16 (29.6) 75 (30.1) 3 (30.0) 88 (30.7)
Self-reported health status
Healthy 12 (33.3) 70 (29.2) 0.77 13 (27.1) 69 (29.2) 0.11 3 (30.0) 79 (29.8) 0.59
Infrequently Ill 7 (19.4) 46 (18.5) 14 (29.2) 39 (16.5) 3 (30.0) 50 (18.3)
Chronically Ill 17 (47.2) 132 (53.2) 21 (43.7) 128 (54.3) 4 (40.0) 145 (52.9)
Signs or symptoms
Fatigue 38 (95.0) 226 (88.3) 0.27 48 (88.9) 216 (89.3) 0.93 9 (90.0) 255 (89.2) 0.93
Headache 25 (62.5) 155 (60.5) 0.81 32 (59.2) 148 (61.2) 0.79 8 (80.0) 172 (60.2) 0.32
Difficulty remembering 32 (80.0) 174 (84.5) 0.12 38 (70.4) 168 (69.4) 0.89 4 (40.0) 202 (70.6) 0.07
Confusion 25 (62.5) 132 (51.5) 0.20 29 (53.7) 128 (52.9) 0.91 4 (40.0) 153 (59.6) 0.52
Disorientation 18 (45.0) 82 (32.0) 0.10 14 (25.9) 86 (35.5) 0.17 2 (20.0) 98 (34.3) 0.50
Irritability 30 (75.0) 153 (59.7) 0.06 32 (59.3) 151 (62.4) 0.66 5 (50.0) 178 (62.2) 0.51
Blurred vision 23 (57.5) 100 (39.1) 0.03 23 (42.6) 100 (41.3) 0.86 3 (30.0) 120 (41.9) 0.45
Eye pain 16 (40.0) 78 (30.5) 0.23 18 (33.3) 76 (31.4) 0.78 3 (30.0) 91 (31.8) 0.99
Sleeplessness 32 (80.0) 188 (73.4) 0.37 36 (66.7) 184 (76.0) 0.15 8 (80.0) 212 (74.1) 0.67
Insomnia 22 (55.0) 153 (59.7) 0.56 33 (61.1) 142 (58.7) 0.74 5 (50.0) 170 (59.4) 0.55
Balance problems 24 (60.0) 123 (48.0) 0.16 26 (48.2) 121 (50.0) 0.80 4 (40.0) 143 (50.0) 0.75
Tremors/shaking 17 (42.5) 92 (35.9) 0.42 17 (31.5) 92 (38.0) 0.36 5 (50.0) 104 (36.4) 0.51
Muscle weakness 28 (70.0) 161 (62.9) 0.38 36 (66.7) 153 (63.2) 0.63 8 (80.0) 181 (63.3) 0.34
Paralysis 3 (7.5) 13 (5.1) 0.52 3 (5.6) 13 (5.4) 0.95 2 (20.0) 14 (4.9) 0.04
Muscle pain 31 (77.5) 176 (68.7) 0.26 36 (66.7) 171 (70.6) 0.56 6 (60.0) 201 (70.3) 0.49
Numbness 28 (70.0) 128 (50.0) 0.01 25 (46.3) 131 (54.1) 0.29 7 (70.0) 149 (52.1) 0.34
Joint pain 31 (77.5) 199 (77.3) 0.97 41 (75.9) 189 (78.1) 0.73 10 (100) 220 (76.9) 0.12
Chronic fatigue 27 (67.5) 180 (70.3) 0.71 37 (68.5) 170 (70.3) 0.80 7 (70.0) 200 (69.9) 0.99
Bowel/bladder dysfunction 17 (42.5) 95 (37.1) 0.51 19 (35.2) 93 (38.4) 0.66 5 (50.0) 107 (37.4) 0.41
Shortness of breath 19 (47.5) 98 (38.3) 0.26 21 (38.9) 96 (39.7) 0.91 3 (30.0) 114 (39.8) 0.74
Poor appetite 8 (20.0) 75 (29.3) 0.22 12 (22.2) 71 (29.3) 0.29 1 (10.0) 82 (28.6) 0.29
Weight loss 7 (17.5) 52 (20.3) 0.67 6 (11.1) 53 (21.9) 0.07 1 (10.0) 58 (20.3) 0.69
Depression 20 (50.0) 126 (49.2) 0.92 28 (51.9) 118 (48.7) 0.68 4 (40.0) 142 (49.6) 0.75
Syncope 4 (10.0) 41 (16.0) 0.32 8 (14.8) 37 (5.3) 0.93 2 (20.0) 43 (15.0) 0.66
Consultation with neurologist 23 (57.5) 87 (33.9) <0.01 22 (40.7) 88 (36.4) 0.56 3 (30.0) 107 (37.4) 0.63
Consultation with infectious disease physician 16 (40.0) 104 (40.6) 0.94 29 (53.7) 91 (37.6) 0.03 4 (40.0) 116 (40.7) 0.97

†Median ages, compared by using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, for positive and negative results, respectively, were B. henselae, 42.5, 44.0, p = 0.43; B. koehlarae, 48.0, 43.0, p = 0.03; and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, 46.5, 44.0, p = 0.64.
*Results of χ2 analysis (Fisher exact test used when expected cell value <5).

Main Article

Page created: April 12, 2012
Page updated: April 12, 2012
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