# Bacillary Angiomatosis in a Patient With HIV and Disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex Infection

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of bacillary angiomatosis caused by Bartonella henselae in an HIV-positive patient with a complex infection.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the rare co-occurrence of Bartonella henselae and Mycobacterium avium complex in an HIV patient.

## Key findings

- Bacillary angiomatosis was confirmed in an HIV-positive patient with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex.
- The case emphasizes the need to consider uncommon infections in immunocompromised individuals.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for such complex infections.

## Abstract

Bartonella is a genus of arthropod-borne bacterial pathogens that typically cause persistent infections of erythrocytes and endothelial cells in mammalian hosts. The species that primarily infect humans are Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. Depending on immune status, the clinical presentation of B. henselae may differ, manifesting as cat-scratch disease in immunocompetent individuals or bacillary angiomatosis (BA) and peliosis in immunocompromised patients. The cutaneous manifestations of BA are typically characterized by occasionally painful, angiomatous papules and nodules, often with a chronic, persistent course. Herein, we present a case of biopsy-confirmed B. henselae infection in a 32-year-old HIV-positive female with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the setting of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection, an association that has been less frequently described. This case serves as an important reminder to consider uncommon opportunistic infectious etiologies when examining immunocompromised patients, as prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential in this patient population.