title: [BRUCELLA MELITENSIS (BM) BACTEREMIA IN HOSPITALIZED ADULT PATIENTS IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Southern Israel is endemic for Brucella melitensis (BM) infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe clinical manifestations and laboratory abnormalities in hospitalized adults with BM-bacteremia and to assess the relationship between various laboratory parameters, outcomes and complications of brucellosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study. All BM bacteremic patients hospitalized in the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) during 2006-2011 were included. Demographic, clinical data and laboratory results were collected from the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 114 patients were included in the study, mostly of Bedouin-Arab origin (92%). The average age was 44 years (±18.4) and included 62 females (54%) of whom 11 were pregnant. Most of the subjects were exposed to sheep or their milk or meat products. The main symptoms included fever, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, and low back pain. Complications were present in 22 patients (19%): arthritis and osteomyelitis (59%), spontaneous abortion (36% of pregnant woman), endocarditis and epididymitis. The incidence of complications was correlated to anemia and leukopenia (p=0.03) and to a low neutrophil count (p=0.009). A decrease of albumin by one unit correlated with an increased hospitalization length by 1.9 days; older age also correlated with a prolonged stay. Complications were present in 45% of pregnant women vs. 10% in non-pregnant women (p=0.011. Relapse occurred in nine patients (8%); only one of these received adequate antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MB-bacteremia in southern Israel occurs mainly in Bedouin-Arabs after exposure to sheep or their products. Older age and low albumin levels increase hospitalization. Leukopenia, mainly low neutrophil count, and low thrombocyte count can predict complications. Pregnant women have a higher incidence of complications. Relapse is rare under adequate antibiotic treatment.
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.forename: Elit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saidel-Odes
authors.forename: Francisc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schlaeffer
authors.forename: Klaris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riesenberg
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018912:Arabs; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents