Brucellosis: Retrospective Evaluation of 146 Cases

In the present study, 146 cases diagnosed as brucellosis and hospitalized between January 1995-July 2001 were evaluated retrospectively in terms of epidemiology, clinic, laboratory findings and treatment. Eigthy-seven (59.5%) of the cases were male whereas 59 of them (40.5%) were female. One hundred and twelwe (76.7%) cases had a history of fresh cheese consumption. One hundred and twenty-two of the cases (83.5%) were classified as acute whereas 13 (8.9%) and 11 (7.6%) were subacute and chronic, respectively. Most frequent complaints were fever (121 patients; 82.8%), sweating (114 patients; 78%) and arthralgia (95 patients; 65%). Physical examinations revealed presence of hepatomegaly (26.7%), splenomegaly (28%), lymphadenopathy (6.1%) and osteoarticular involvement (14.3%). In some cases, development of neurobrucellosis (n= 3), epididymo-orchitis (n= 2) and endocarditis (n= 1) were determined. Leukopenia and anemia were present in 26 (17.8%) and 71 (48.6%) cases, respectively, whereas increase in transaminase activity levels was determined in 53.4% of the cases. Antibody Titer levels of 95.2% of the cases were ≥ 1/160 as determined by standard tube agglutination and blood culture positivity was 22.6%. Most frequently used antibiotic combination (69.8%) was rifampicin and doxycycline. Relaps was observed in 4.1% of the cases. In conclusion; different clinical presentations, difficulties in clinical and laboratory diagnosis, compliance of patients to treatment, failure rate or relaps in response to presently applied antibiotic combinations are among the main problems encountered in brucellosis which is seen endemically in our country. We believe that this report where we share our experience about clinic, diagnosis, laboratory and treatment will contribute to solve problems about brucellosis.