Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi (Sep 2024)
Analysis of Epidemiological, Clinical, and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients Diagnosed with Brucellosis: A Comprehensive Study
Abstract
Aim: Brucellosis, an endemic zoonotic disease within our nation, exhibits a notably high prevalence in the Southeastern, Eastern, and Central Anatolia regions. This study aims to assess the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, along with the complications, among both outpatient and inpatient cases diagnosed with brucellosis in Ağrı province. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 121 patients under the care of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Ağrı Training and Research Hospital between January 2022 and March 2024. Diagnosis of brucellosiswas established based on clinical manifestations indicative of the disease, standard tube agglutination test titers of >=1/160, and/or isolation of Brucella spp./Brucella melitensis from blood cultures. Patients were categorized into acute, subacute, chronic (newly diagnosed), and relapsed groups based on their clinical presentations. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters were evaluated across these patient groups. Results: Among the 121 patients analyzed, 73 (60.3%) were female and 48 (39.7%) were male, with a mean age of 40.69 (±14.3) years. Of these patients, 87 (72%) were newly diagnosed, while 34 (28%) had experienced a relapse. Newly diagnosed patients exhibited notably higher rates of blood culture positivity and focal involvement compared to relapsed individuals (p=0.000, p=0.049, respectively). Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), sedimentation rate, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were observed among patients with organ involvement in comparison to those without organ involvement (p=0.001, p=0.022, p=0.013, p=0.035, respectively). Conclusion: In regions where brucellosis is endemic, it should be considered among the primary differential diagnoses in patients presenting with fever. Biochemical markers such as CRP, sedimentation rate, ALT, and AST should be taken into consideration for assessing organ involvement in patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Combatting the disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, and healthcare professionals along with the local population should be educated about the disease and preventive measures.
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