Characteristics of B. melitensis versus B. abortus bacteraemias.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the epidemiological and the clinical characteristics of bacteremic brucellosis.


METHODS
A prospective study, performed in the First Infectious Diseases Clinic of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital. All the patients had positive culture result for Brucella spp.


RESULTS
Fifty-four acute bacteremic brucellosis cases were included. The majority of patients (76%) were from rural Anatolia. Brucella melitensis serotypes were more common than Brucella abortus (83% versus 17%). Fever and arthralgia were the most common symptoms. The number of patients with back pain and arthralgia was higher in B. abortus infected group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
B. melitensis is the most common subtype of Brucella infection in Turkey. The infections with B. abortus spp. are not less severe than the infections with B. melitensis.
Dokuzoğuz
Başak
B
The First Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Ergönül
Onder
O
Baykam
Nurcan
N
Esener
Harika
H
Kiliç
Selçuk
S
Celikbaş
Aysel
A
Eren
Sebnem
S
Esen
Berrin
B
D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000382:microbiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology