title: Brucellosis: a retrospective evaluation.
abstract: One hundred and sixty-six presumed brucellosis patients were included in the study. These patients were classified as primary (91), relapse (18) and suspected (57) cases according to their clinical presentations, and serologic and microbiologic test results. Primary and relapse cases were evaluated retrospectively according to age, sex, residence, routes of transmission, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment regimens, duration of treatment, and relapse rates. Of the 109 primary and relapse patients, 57 were male and 52 female. The ages of the patients ranged between 16-75 (mean age 40.2). The percentages of the urban and rural residence of the patients were 41.3% and 58.7%, respectively. The most common mode of transmission was consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products (67.9%). Malaise, fever and sweating were the most frequently observed symptoms (96.3%, 95.4%, 91.7%, respectively). The most common signs were fever (97.2%), splenomegaly (59.6%), and hepatomegaly (37.6%). The liver was the most frequently involved organ (21.1%). Almost all (99.1%) patients were serologically positive. However, the positivity rate of culture was low (15.6%). The most frequently preferred antimicrobial regimen was rifampin and doxycycline combination. The relapse rate was 8.3%. Brucellosis is still prevalent in Turkey as in many other countries in the Mediterranean basin. The clinical presentation of the disease may show regional variations. Patients with a history of occupational or nutritional contact with the bacterium and with a compatible clinical picture should be examined using appropriate diagnostic techniques before any attempt to prescribe an antimicrobial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem Işikgöz
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tasbakan
authors.forename: Tansu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazhan
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gökengin
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arda
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sertpolat
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.forename: Ekin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ertem
authors.forename: Serter
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin