The role of the serum tube agglutination test in the monitoring of human brucellosis: evaluation of post-treatment SAT titers

Abstract

Study design and patientsPatients aged 16 years and older who were diagnosed with brucellosis and regularly presented to the outpatient clinic Infectious Diseases of Bitlis Tatvan State Hospital every 2-4 weeks between October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, were enrolled in this retrospective and single-center study. All patient data were retrieved from our previous study 7 . The study patients were also divided into two groups to compare relevant variables: the end-of-treatment SAT-positive group (those with persistent SAT positivity) and the end-of-treatment SAT-negative group (those with nonpersistent SAT positivity). Demographic and clinical dataThe epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of the patients were retrospectively evaluated. Brucellosis was diagnosed with a SAT titer of ≥1/160 or by isolation of Brucella spp. in a blood culture. Clinical improvement was noted in patients who received regular and appropriate treatment for at least 6 weeks and had improved symptoms and signs. A SAT titer of <1/40 at the end of the treatment was accepted as SAT negativity (serological cure), while a titer between 1/40 and 1/160 was considered a low titer. Patients who developed clinical symptoms within 6 months of the treatment and had at least a twofold increase in SAT titers or growth of Brucella spp. in blood culture were considered relapses.