Retrospective evaluation of Brucellosis cases in our hospital

This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate patients diagnosed with brucellosis at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine between 2014 and 2023. The diagnosis of brucellosis was confirmed in patients with a Standard Tube Agglutination Test (SAT) titer ≥1/160. Only patients aged 18 years and older were included. Data analysis covered demographic characteristics, clinical findings, laboratory results, and treatment processes. Among the 122 patients included in the study, 64.75% were male, and 35.25% were female. The mean age of the patients was 48.8 years. The months in which symptoms were most frequently observed were March (15%), July (13%), and January (10%), whereas the least frequent months were October (3%), August, and December (4%). The most commonly reported symptoms were arthralgia (51,64%), fatigue (50,00%), and fever (49,18%). Regarding organ involvement, a significant proportion of patients (38,52%) had no organ involvement. However, peripheral arthritis (18,02%) and hepatomegaly (16,39%) were the most commonly observed conditions. Laboratory findings showed that elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (85,25%) and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (73,77%) were the most prevalent abnormalities. In terms of treatment protocols, the most commonly preferred regimen was the doxycycline/rifampin combination. This study evaluated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with brucellosis. The findings highlight the importance of early intervention in the diagnosis and treatment of brucellosis and emphasize the need for awareness-raising efforts, particularly for at-risk populations.