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Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Although there is no vaccine available to prevent CSD, there are several ways to reduce or eliminate exposure to Bartonella henselae organisms. Avoid any "play" that may cause a kitten or cat to become aggressive and cause it to scratch or bite. Do not allow kittens or cats to lick a person's face or any area near the eyes or near any breaks in the skin. Keep kittens and cats free of fleas. Some investigators suggest declawing pet cats. Immediately wash scratches, superficial "bites," and licks with running water and soap. Immunosuppressed people may need to take extra precautions and avoid contact with cats, especially kittens. Visually, cats and kittens carrying Bartonella henselae cannot be distinguished from those not carrying the bacteria. However, any contact with cats or kittens with fleas will increase the chance of getting CSD.

Some investigators suggest that once a person gets CSD and recovers, the person becomes immune to subsequent infections, but this situation is still under study.

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