TITLE:
Brucellosis: An Outpatient Non-Probability Retrospective Study of 199 Patients
AUTHORS:
Jamal Wadi Al Ramahi
KEYWORDS:
Brucella Spondylodiscitis, Brucella Sacroiliitis, Brucellosis in Jordan, Brucella Treatment, Quinolones in Brucellosis
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.14 No.3,
September
2,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: A descriptive study of the characteristics of brucellosis patients in Jordan and antimicrobial therapy. Methods: In an outpatient study, records were reviewed between July 2016 and April 2024 and electronically saved. Brucella diagnosis was based on epidemiological factors, risk factors, the standard tube agglutination test (STA), and blood or tissue cultures. Records were uploaded into a spreadsheet and imported into the R-Program. A 2-sample Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tested the equality of proportions between two treatment regimens for all available and spondylodiscitis, P Results: Two hundred patients with Brucellosis were analyzed; males 106 (53%) with a mean age of 46.8 years, and females 94 (47%) with a mean age of 48.1 years. Patients from Jordan were 159 (79.9%), and the Arabian Peninsula 25 (12.6%). Brucellosis was a non-focal presentation in 121 (60.50%) patients, spondylodiscitis in 64 (32.0%), and sacroiliitis in 7 (3.5%). Spondylodiscitis involved lumbar 48 (75.0%), thoracic 11 (17.20%), and cervical 5 (7.8%). STA was a common diagnostic method (188, 94%). Risk factors included cheese 80 (47.3%), cattle, small ruminants, and she-camel milk 37 (21.89%), dairy products 28 (16.57%), meat 9 (05.33%), and working with cattle 10 (05.92%). ESR was highest in spondylodiscitis (mean of 54.5). Imaging studies commonly requested were MRI and Bone scans. Doxycycline/Rifampin were mostly prescribed antimicrobials. Conclusion: There is no clear guidance on brucella treatment. In endemic areas, brucella is still a concern. Population education must be a priority. Support for randomized trials addressing antimicrobials and durations is extremely needed.