RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations,chest imaging characteristics and treatment method of pneumonia and pleural effusion resulted from brucellosis. METHODS: The clinical data of a patient who suffered from pneumonia and pleural effusion resulted from brucellosis was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The patient suffered from pneumonia and pleural effusion because of inhalation of aerosols containing brucella when handling apoblema of sick pigs.The main clinical manifestations included fever,chills,mild cough,mild sputum production,combined with chest congestion and shortness of breath. Chest imaging features were multiple patchy infiltrating shadows and nodules on the right lung combined with right side pleural effusion. Serum rose-bengal plate test was positive, and standard-tube agglutination test resulted in titres of 1 ∶ 200. After combination treatment using oral doxycycline plus rifampicin and intravenous ceftriaxone,the clinical symptom of the patient was relieved,chest patch shadows and pleural effusion were improved. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis with pulmonary involvement is rarely seen. Its clinical manifestations are diverse and non-specific. Pulmonary brucellosis could be easily misdiagnosed as common bacterial pneumonia or tuberculosis.Epidemiological data and occupational exposure history can help the diagnosis.