Eighty-three cases of brucella infection from an endemic region

Aim: Brucellosis is the most common bacterial zoonosis in all around the world and still a public health threat with high rates of incidence in Turkey. In the present study, we evaluated the brucella infection cases, manifested in Sirnak, one of the regions that brucellosis is common in our country. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data of 83 outpatients and inpatients who admitted infectious disease department of a second-line hospital between dates of October 2017 and December 2018. We have evaluated possible risk factors for brucellosis, complaints of the patients, the initiation time of the complaints, clinical signs, complications and treatment regimes. Results: 61.4% (51/83) of the patients included in the study were female. The mean age of the patients was 35.3 (15-84). Brucella infection was most common among housewives (39.7%) and the most common risk factor was fresh dairy cheese consumption (78.3%). The most common symptom was muscle and joint pain. We have applied 13 different treatment regimens in the form of double and triple drug combinations, and treatment of 13.2% of the patients was switched because of various reasons. 30.1% of the patients infected with brucella had hepatitis and 13.2% had osteoarticular involvement. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.009) and C reactive protein (p = 0.046) were statistically significant high in patients with osteoarticular involvement compared to without. The correlation between higher Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.009), C reactive protein (p = 0.046) values and osteoarticular involvement was statistically significant. Epididymoorchitis was developed in three patients (3,6%). The rate of relapse was 26.5%. Conclusion: Brucella infection should be kept in mind in patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms, especially in areas where brucella infection is common like our region and patients should be examined for brucellosis