Bacterial infections: bacillary angiomatosis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Bacterial infections: bacillary angiomatosis

Sample item

An HIV positive patient with a CD4 count of 80 has multiple friable red vascular papules. Biopsy shows lobular capillary proliferation with neutrophils and granular purple material that stains with Warthin-Starry. What is the organism?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Bartonella henselae

Bacillary angiomatosis is caused by Bartonella henselae or quintana in immunocompromised patients, and mimics Kaposi sarcoma or pyogenic granuloma. It responds to erythromycin or doxycycline.

Option by option

  • A. Coxiella burnetii

    Coxiella causes Q fever without skin lesions.

  • B. Bartonella henselae (correct)

    Correct. Warthin-Starry silver stain highlights Bartonella.

  • C. Rickettsia typhi

    Rickettsia typhi causes murine typhus, not vascular proliferation.

  • D. Brucella melitensis

    Brucella causes systemic febrile illness.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Bartonella henselae. Bacillary angiomatosis is caused by Bartonella henselae or quintana in immunocompromised patients, and mimics Kaposi sarcoma or pyogenic granuloma.

Why is "Coxiella burnetii" not the answer?

Coxiella causes Q fever without skin lesions.

Why is "Rickettsia typhi" not the answer?

Rickettsia typhi causes murine typhus, not vascular proliferation.

Why is "Brucella melitensis" not the answer?

Brucella causes systemic febrile illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacterial infections: bacillary angiomatosis in Dermatology. It responds to erythromycin or doxycycline.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bacterial infections: bacillary angiomatosis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.