ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to examine the epidemiology of human brucellosis in a helath-care system in Eastern Saudi Arabia. All cases of human brucellosis from 1983 to 2007 were analyzed. In the study period, there were 913 patients with brucellosis in the Saudi Aramco health-care system. There were 608 males and 305 females with a male to female ratio of [2:1]. The annual incidence rate per 100,000 populations increased from 13 to 70 in 1983 and 1987, respectively, then decreased to 9 in 2006. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 83 years with a mean age of 35.8 +/- 17.9 years and a median of 36 years. Of the total patients, 195 [21%] and 155 [17%] cases occurred in those between 20-30 and 31-40 years of age, respectively. Children [/= 1:2560 in 10%. The higher brucella titers were associated with higher rate of positive cultures [P value = 0.0002]. There was a decrease in the incidence of brucellosis over the study period. The highest incidence was in patients 40-49 years of age. Continued surveillance and efforts are needed to further decrease the cases of brucellosis