|
SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Cat Scratch Disease
SYNONYM: Bartonella henselae
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative bacillus; vegetative and cell-wall defective variant forms.
SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Mild fever and swelling of the lymph nodes; possible serious abscess formation; 25-60%
of patients report a primary cutaneous inoculation lesion at the site of cat scratch or bite; headache, anorexia,
weight loss, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and splenomegaly may develop; nonspecific maculopapular eruptions,
erythema nodosum and thrombocytopenic purpura have been observed.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide, usually occurs in children during cool months; may become systemic or recurring
in immunocompromised individuals.
HOST RANGE: Humans, cats, rodents, dogs.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Through cat scratches or bites; contact between a cat's body fluids and abraded skin.
INCUBATION PERIOD: 3 -14 days
COMMUNICABILITY: Cats-only able to transmit disease for a few weeks at a time; young cats are more susceptible
to carrying bacteria than older cats. No direct human-to-human transmission.
SECTION III - DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Cats
ZOONOSIS: Yes
VECTORS: Possibly fleas?
SECTION IV
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Erythromycin, doxycycline
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach), 2% glutaraldehyde,
formaldehyde, 70% ethanol.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heating.
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives in tap water at room temperature for up to 7 days.
SECTION V - MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirmation by testing paired sera by ELISA or indirect fluorescent
antibody test; biopsy specimen stained with Warthin-Starry silver stain.
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Treatment with ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin-clavulanate or sulfatrimethoprim may be useful;
efficacy not established. Patients may benefit from analgesics and bed rest. Patients with severe lymph node suppuration
may be relieved by needle aspiration of pus.
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI: LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Information unavailable.
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Infected cats.
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Cat bites or scratches.
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None.
SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for activities involving
known or potentially infectious materials.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat and gloves when working with infectious materials.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Avoid accidental inoculation and follow general needle safety practices.
SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent paper
towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach) starting at the perimeter and working towards the
center-, allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up.
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration.
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labeled.
Information provided by the Colorado State University Office of Biosafety; June 16, 1998.
|