title: A sporadic outbreak of human brucellosis in Korea.
abstract: Eleven cases of human brucellosis occurred among livestock workers and a veterinarian who lived and worked in a rural area around Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-Do, Korea from February 2003 to August 2003. Eight of the patients had taken care of Korean native cattle that were infected with bovine brucellosis and had already been slaughtered. Two of the patients had taken care of dairy cattle, and one case was a veterinarian who acquired the disease through an accidental contact with infected cattle while assisting in calf delivery. Eleven cases were identified by serologic work ups and four cases were identified via positive blood cultures. This study shows that the Republic of Korea is no longer free of human brucellosis, Brucella abortus biotype 1. We reviewed the patients' characteristics and serologic data during the one-year follow up period, and we also discuss on the efficacy and side effects of the rifampin and doxycyline regimen used for the treatment of human brucellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Yeoun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang-Seop
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seoung-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joo-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heung-Bum
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000635:transmission; D002417:Cattle; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018634:Veterinarians
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin