Ninety-Six Cases of Brucellosis: A Retrospective Evaluation

WOS: 000481718600012Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and treatment features and treatment response of brucellosis patients followed in a public hospital in the Eastern Anatolia. Methods: Ninety-six patients treated after the diagnosis of brucellosis were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53 +/- 33.9 years (range 15-84 years), and 55 (57%) of them were female. 36 (38%) of the patients were housewives, 17 (18%) were dealing with livestock, and 25 (26%) were living in rural areas. 75 (78%) of the cases had an acute presentation. Consumption of unpasteurized milk or dairy products was the most common route of transmission. The main symptoms were fever, malaise, arthralgia, myalgia, and sweating. Fever, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were the most common signs. Increased C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were found in 46%, and 41% of the cases. Hepatitis was present in 38%, hematological involvement in 33%, gastrointestinal involvement in 22%, osteoarticular involvement in 5%, skin involvement in 2% and depression in 1% of the cases. The most frequent treatment regimen was doxycycline and streptomycin. No treatment failure or relapses were observed for one year after treatment. Conclusions: Brucellosis is an infection with multiple clinical presentations. It should be noted that prognosis is strongly associated with early suspicion, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, especially in endemic countries such as Turkey