Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of bacteremic brucellosis

Objective Brucellosis is the most common zoonotic disease. Isolation of Brucella melitensis in blood culture is accepted as the gold standard for diagnosis. This study aims to determine the predictive factors of B. melitensis bacteremia in pediatric patients followed up with brucellosis. Methods Two-hundred twenty pediatric brucellosis patients were included in the study. The epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. Results The patients comprised 63.2% males and 36.8% females with a mean age of 10.45 ± 4.36 years (range, 1–18 years), and 70.5% were younger than 14 years old. B. melitensis was isolated in the blood culture in 33.6% of patients. In the epidemiological history of pediatric patients with bacteremic brucellosis, there was a history of dealing with, owning, or working with livestock. In patients with brucellosis, fever and weight loss, hepatomegaly, and arthritis were more common in patients with bacteremia than in those without bacteremia. Among laboratory findings, leukopenia, low albumin value, and high C-reactive protein were calculated as predictors of Brucella bacteremia in patients with brucellosis. Conclusion In regions where brucellosis is endemic, serum agglutination tests may be positive without clinical findings. Brucellosis can mimic many other diseases, so the definitive diagnosis is demonstrated by bacteremia. Blood cultures should be taken in patients with predictive factors suggestive of brucellosis.

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“…Previous studies have reported increased liver enzymes and elevated CRP in patients with B. bacteremia . 6 19 21 22…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Factors of Brucella melitensis Bacteremia in Children Admitted with Brucellosis

Erat¹,

Ercan

Aslan

et al. 2023

J Pediatr Infect Dis

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“…Although brucella-associated bacteremia is not uncommon, few cases of brucellosis presenting with bacteremia and acute sepsis remains in the literature [12] . Brucellosis may frequently present with cytopenia, particularly during febrile bacteremia.However, pancytopenia is not a common presenting symptom [6] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brucellosis presenting with sepsis and cholestasis: A rare presentation of an endemic disease with review of the literature

Sharif

Heravi

Barahimi

et al. 2022

IDCases

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“…14 From previous studies, several clinical manifestations, and laboratory results were found to be associated with bacteremic brucellosis, including fever, chills, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes, and elevated C-reactive protein levels. 15,16 Although Brucella bacteremia is not uncommon in patients with Brucellosis, the reports regarding brucella bacteremia are scarce in Anhui Province. Furthermore, results obtained from the epidemiology, laboratory tests, and the clinical presentation of brucellosis patients are not fully investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological, Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients with Brucella Infection in Anhui Province, China

Shi¹,

Wang²,

Lv³

et al. 2021

IDR

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Background: Brucellosis is currently one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases caused by Brucella genus, and the Brucella melitensis is the major pathogen. The number of people infected with Brucella has gradually increased in Anhui Province. Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data of brucellosis patients in Anhui Province. Patients and Methods: A total of 109 brucellosis patients were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2012 to March 2021. Data from all patients were retrieved from the hospital's electronic medical system. The final results were grouped and compared according to the presence or absence of bacteremic brucellosis and three phases of brucellosis. Results: The most common symptoms among all 109 brucellosis patients were fever (89.0%), followed by chills (52.3%), arthralgia (48.6%), and weight loss (30.3%), and laboratory results presented with anemia (65.1%), elevate of C-reactive protein (CRP) (91.7%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (86.2%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (40.4%), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (43.1%). The percentage of fever (96.1%), arthralgia (58.8%), anorexia (35.3%), leukopenia (31.4%), and the AST (51.0%) were higher in bacteremic than nonbacteremic group. Additionally, the median level of LDH (332.0 mg/ L, IQR, 209.0-553.0) was higher in bacteremic than nonbacteremic group. Nevertheless, the albumin (36.0 mg/L, IQR, 33.9-38.2) was lower in the bacteremic group. The percentage of fever (94.9%) and the median LDH level (316.0 U/L (IQR,218.0-517.5)) in the acute phase of brucellosis were higher than the percentage of fever (72.0%) and the median LDH level (209.0 U/L (IQR,162.0-276.0)) in the subacute phase of brucellosis. Conclusion: Brucellosis has become an important public health issue in Anhui Province. Brucellosis is a disease with diverse clinical manifestations. Our data showed that unexplained fever, arthralgia, and elevated AST and LDH should be considered as a diagnosis of bacteremia brucellosis for early treatment intervention.

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Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of bacteremic brucellosis

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

Predicting Factors of Brucella melitensis Bacteremia in Children Admitted with Brucellosis

Predicting Factors of Brucella melitensis Bacteremia in Children Admitted with Brucellosis

Brucellosis presenting with sepsis and cholestasis: A rare presentation of an endemic disease with review of the literature

Epidemiological, Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients with Brucella Infection in Anhui Province, China

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