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Original
Research Article
Clinical Features, Complications and Treatment Outcome of Brucella
infection: Ten Years' Experience in an
Endemic Area
HA Bukharie
Department of Internal
Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, King Fahd
Hospital of the University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding
author: E-mail:
hudawe000@yahoo.com
Received: 13 January
2009
Revised accepted: 2 May 2009
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, August 2009; 8(4):
303-310
Abstract
Purpose:
Brucellosis is a multi-systemic infection that is
endemic in some parts of the world. The purpose of this
study was to examine the epidemiology as well as the
clinical and haematological characteristics,
complications, and treatment outcome of patients with
brucellosis at the King Fahd Hospital of the University
Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A descriptive case assessment of all adult patients
(aged 13 years and above) with brucellosis over a period
of 10 years between 1998 and 2007 was undertaken.
Results:
The diagnosis of brucellosis in 84 patients was made by
clinical findings, positive agglutination titre, and/or
the isolation of Brucella species. The number of
patients with brucellosis presenting at our hospital
reduced over the study period, with a much smaller
proportion of cases occurring after the year 2000. Most
of the patients had fever (73%) and musculoskeletal
symptoms (64%). Splenomegaly was recorded in 13% and
hepatomegaly in 11% of patients. Seven patients (8%) had
epididymo-orchitis. Two patients presented with fever of
unknown origin with negative serology and only bone
marrow culture was positive for Brucella mellitensis.
Two patients presented with menstrual associated
recurrent fever. One previously healthy patient
presented with jaundice and spontaneous peritonitis. No
therapeutic failure was observed but relapse occurred in
six patients (7%). None of the patients who received
streptomycin or ciprofloxacin as part of their
antibiotic regimen had a relapse.
Conclusion:
Brucellosis has a wide range of clinical manifestations.
Although the number of patients with brucellosis
presenting at our hospital has reduced, continuous
organized effort is necessary for brucellosis control.
Key words:
Brucellosis;
Recurrent fever; Saudi Arabia; Ascites; Arthritis;
Menstrual cycle. |
