Efficacy of antibiotics in neurobrucellosis

Abstract

Brucellosis is a systemic infection that rarely involves the nervous system. This paper describes 21 cases of neurobrucellosis affecting different parts of the peripheral and central nervous system. The various presentations closely simulated acute meningoencephalitis, myelitis, cerebral ischaemia, radiculopathy or multisystem degeneration. All patients received adequate combined antimicrobial therapy of trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, and/or rifampicin. The improvement was quick and complete in meningoencephalitic patients, while others with structural changes in the nervous system did not recover and ended up with permanent deficits. The combination regimen and duration of therapy are the focus of this study.