A case of human brucellosis in Hong Kong.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by Brucella species. We report on a 34-year-old housewife who presented with recurrent headache, fever, and malaise. Blood cultures yielded slow-growing gram-negative coccobacilli that were later identified as Brucella melitensis. The patient recalled handling goat placenta in China. She was prescribed a 6-week course of doxycycline and rifampicin. Laboratory staff who had been exposed to the isolate remained asymptomatic. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of brucellosis are discussed.
Lee
M K P
MK
Department of Pathology, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. leekp2@ha.org.hk
Fung
K S C
KS
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin