Clinical Features, Complications, and Treatment Outcomes in Brucellosis Cases: A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis at Erzurum City Hospital

Abstract

Aim: Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic infection, particularly prevalent in developing countries, with the potential to cause multisystem involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with brucellosis in Erzurum, an endemic region.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 627 adult patients diagnosed with brucellosis at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of Erzurum City Hospital between January 2020 and June 2024. Demographic data, clinical findings, laboratory values, organ involvement, treatment regimens, and treatment outcomes were obtained by reviewing patient records. Diagnosis was based on standard serum agglutination test (≥1:160), blood culture results, and clinical data.Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 17.1 years, and 54.1% were male. The most frequently reported risk factors were consumption of unpasteurized milk and dairy products (71.0%) and a history of livestock farming (68.3%). The most common clinical symptoms were fatigue (92.8%), fever (80.9%), and joint pain (75.3%). 57.9% of cases were in the acute form of brucellosis. The most common complications were osteoarticular involvement (34.1%), genitourinary involvement (7.2%), and neurobrucellosis (4.2%). The most commonly used general treatment regimen was doxycycline plus rifampicin (41.6%), with an overall treatment success rate of 98.6%.Conclusion: Brucellosis remains a significant public health problem in endemic regions such as Erzurum. Early diagnosis, appropriate combination therapies, and relapse prevention strategies are critical for effective disease management.