title: Brucellosis: a retrospective evaluation of 164 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brucellosis is a public health problem that is prevalent in several developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and laboratory characteristics of 164 cases of brucellosis in Bursa, Turkey, were retrospectively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ages of the 164 patients ranged from 15-85 years. All of the patients underwent the Rose Bengal test and 163 (99.4%) patients tested positive. 122 (74.4%) patients were diagnosed with acute brucellosis, 31 (18.9%) with subacute brucellosis and 11 (6.7%) with chronic brucellosis. Focal involvement was found in 101 (61.6%) patients. Although patients with focal involvement had a higher white blood cell count (p = 0.002), those without focal involvement had higher aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase values, and lower platelet values (p = 0.005, 0.007 and 0.039, respectively). Spondylodiscitis was observed on imaging in 58 (66.7%) of the 87 patients who presented with back pain. Among the 118 patients who were examined within the first month of treatment, 79 (66.9%) responded to treatment. The relapse rate was 11.6% among all 164 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brucellosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis among patients who present with fever, and joint or back pain. Focal involvement should be investigated in the presence of leucocytosis, and subacute or chronic forms of brucellosis. To identify cases of spondylodiscitis, radiography should be performed in patients who present with back pain.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kazak
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akalın
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heper
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Reşit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mıstık
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sınırtaş
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Özakın
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güher
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göral
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helvacı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey
keywords: brucellosis; diagnosis; epidemiology; musculoskeletal; spondylodiscitis