In a US survey of infectious disease specialists, 61 respondents reported seeing >1 Bartonella quintana infection during 2014-2024. Diagnostic challenges included limited healthcare provider awareness, inadequate testing, and inconsistent healthcare access among affected populations. Early recognition of B. quintana infections is needed to improve outcomes among affected populations.
Keywords: Bartonella quintana; United States; bacteria; body lice; body louse; communicable diseases; diagnostic testing; healthcare access; homelessness; parasites; pediculosis; questionnaires; surveys; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.