Rickettsia akari: Difference between revisions
From IDWiki
Rickettsia akari
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* Causes '''rickettsialpox''' |
* Causes '''rickettsialpox''' |
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= Microbiology = |
== Microbiology == |
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* Disease caused by ''Rickettsia akari'', an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium |
* Disease caused by ''Rickettsia akari'', an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium |
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* Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid |
* Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid |
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= Epidemiology = |
== Epidemiology == |
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* Transmitted by the house mouse mite (''Liponyssoides sanguineus'') |
* Transmitted by the house mouse mite (''Liponyssoides sanguineus'') |
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* Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors |
* Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors |
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= Clinical Presentation = |
== Clinical Presentation == |
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* Incubation period of 7 to 14 days |
* Incubation period of 7 to 14 days |
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* May find leukocytosis |
* May find leukocytosis |
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= Diagnosis = |
== Diagnosis == |
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* Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies |
* Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies |
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= Management = |
== Management == |
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* Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help |
* Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help |
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Revision as of 20:14, 15 August 2019
- Causes rickettsialpox
Microbiology
- Disease caused by Rickettsia akari, an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium
- Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid
Epidemiology
- Transmitted by the house mouse mite (Liponyssoides sanguineus)
- Rodents are the reservoir
- Most cases are in New York, but it is found worldwide
- Most likely rickettsiosis to be found in Ontario
- Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors
Clinical Presentation
- Incubation period of 7 to 14 days
- Present with fever, vesicular rash, and eschar
- Headache also common
- The eschar is painless, and appears as a papule about a week after innoculation, followed by vesicle that dries and leaves a brown or black eschar
- The rash is vesicular, but may be papulovesicular or any other type of rash
- Lesions leaves black crust and heal without scarring
- Spares palms and soles
- Resolves in two to three weeks
- May find leukocytosis
Diagnosis
- Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies
Management
- Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help
- Doxycycline 100 mg po bid for 2 to 5 days and 48 h after fever resolves
