Is Bartonella sp. infection relevant in hematological malignancies in HIV-negative patients? A literature review

•Little is known about bartonelloses affecting immunocompromised patients other than those with AIDS. This article reviews reported cases of bartonelloses in patients with hematological malignancies.•A high level of suspicion and the use of multiple diagnostic methods enhance the probability of diagnosing these conditions, enabling the initiation of proper antibiotic treatment. Most reported cases resolved after treatment. Bartonelloses are diseases caused by Bartonella sp., transmitted to humans by blood sucking arthropod vectors. Clinical presentations include bacillary angiomatosis, cat scratch disease and atypical forms. We performed a review of cases of bartonelloses and hematological malignancies published in HIV-negative patients. Terms used were Bartonella or Bacillary Angiomatosis and Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, or Cancer. Fifteen cases met our criteria. Clinical presentations included bacillary angiomatosis, chronic fever, chronic lymphadenopathy, osteomyelitis, neuroretinitis, chronic anemia and hepatosplenic peliosis. Fourteen patients were asymptomatic after antibiotic therapy, and one died before antibiotic treatment. Clinicians should be suspicious of Bartonella sp. infections in immunocompromised patients.