Brucellar spondylitis: review of 25 cases.

Objective: : Brucellar spondylitis is one of the most serious complications of brucellosis. It should be considered in patients who have back pain and neurologic disorders as well as systemic symptoms and findings in or from endemic areas such as Turkey. This report describes important features of the disease.

Methods: : Twenty-five patients with brucellar spondylitis were retrospectively evaluated in terms of their clinical, laboratory, and radiologic features and their response to different treatment regimens.

Results: : The most common symptoms of brucellar spondylitis were back pain, fever, and sweating. Rose Bengal tests were positive in all of these patients. Brucella species was isolated from blood cultures of 8 (32%) patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the lumbar segment was the most frequently involved region. Different combination regimens including 2 or 3 antibiotics were used. Combination of tetracycline (especially doxycycline) and streptomycin was the most widely used therapy regimen. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and rifampin were also included in some combination therapies. In this series, the mean duration of antimicrobial therapy was 130 +/- 45.6 days (range, 77-281 days), and 92% of patients received therapy for >/= 90 days. There were no mortalities in this study.

Conclusions: : Brucellar spondylitis should be considered in patients with back pain and neurologic disorders as well as systemic symptoms and findings in endemic areas. MR imaging is recommended in suspected cases. The patients can be treated effectively treated with appropriate antibiotic combinations. Follow up is important because relapses can occur.