Evaluation of four hundred and forty seven brucellosis cases.

Objective: Brucellosis remains as a widespread zoonosis, both worldwide and in our country that causes serious public health problems with the potential to create disease in humans and animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the characteristics of brucellosis patients followed in our clinic and to compare these cases with those reported in the literature.

Methods: Four hundred and forty-seven patients who were treated in our clinic between March 2004 and March 2011 for a diagnosis of brucellosis and who were followed for one year after the completion of treatment were retrospectively examined. Data for the patients were obtained using brucellosis follow-up forms.

Results: Of the 447 patients, 261 (58.4%) were women, and the mean age was 48±17 years. Focal organ involvement was detected in 178 (40%) cases, with the musculoskeletal system being the leading site (30.6%), followed by the central nervous system (5.4%). Spondylodiscitis exhibited a significant correlation with an advanced age, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission (p=0.001, p=0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). A significant correlation was found between sacroiliitis and a younger age (p=0.003). Relapse was observed in 35 (7.8%) cases.

Conclusion: The present study allowed us to scrutinize the characteristics and complications of patients with brucellosis. Focal organ involvement of the musculoskeletal system was observed in the present cases, particularly spondylodiscitis and sacroiliitis. Spondylodiscitis was detected in elderly patients with high CRP and ESR values, whereas sacroiliitis was seen in younger patients. We believe that age, symptom duration and laboratory parameters should be evaluated in patients with brucellosis and that older patients in particular should be precisely examined for bone and joint complications.