title: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to Brucella infection.
abstract: Brucella infection is a systemic disease, but the microorganism rarely causes infections in the gastrointestinal system such as hepatitis, cholecystitis, colitis and pancreatitis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to Brucella is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of cirrhosis complicated with nongranulomatous hepatitis and peritonitis, both due to Brucella. A 63 year-old man with diabetes mellitus was admitted to hospital with complaints of weakness, backache, abdominal pain and abdominal swelling. On the basis of physical examination and laboratory findings, cryptogenic cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were diagnosed. Due to persistent fever and backache, serum Brucella agglutination test was performed and found to be positive. Brucella melitensis was isolated from ascitic fluid culture. Liver biopsy findings revealed cirrhosis and a nongranulomatous hepatitis which was thought might be due to Brucella infection. Doxycycline and rifampicin, in addition to diuretics were administered for spontaneous ascites infection due to Brucella. A week later, the patient's condition improved and he became afebrile. After two months of therapy, the ascites had almost disappeared.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. sgursoy@erciyes.edu.tr
authors: Sebnem
authors: S
authors: Gürsoy
authors: Mevlüt
authors: M
authors: Baskol
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Ozbakir
authors: Kadri
authors: K
authors: Güven
authors: Tahir
authors: T
authors: Patiroğlu
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Yücesoy
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology