Endocarditis caused by Brucella melitensis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of an uncommon but serious infection in Australia. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 25-year-old woman developed endocarditis after residence in Turkey and consumption of goat dairy products. Brucella melitensis was isolated from blood cultures. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The valve remained infected after prolonged intravenous administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin and rifampicin. Uncontrolled sepsis and worsening haemodynamic function necessitated valve replacement. To date the patient remains well while taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin. CONCLUSION: Endocarditis due to Brucella spp. is uncommon in Australia. This infection is difficult to cure with antimicrobial therapy alone and early surgical intervention is advisable.

Chronic liver disease in asymptomatic hepatitis C antibody positive blood donors.

The risks of acquisition of hepatitis C infection, the histological spectrum of liver disease, and the presence of viraemia were investigated in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive blood donors. All 357 (0.64%) blood donors to the South Australian Red Cross Transfusion Service found to have anti-HCV antibody during the first seven months of testing in 1990 were assessed, and 70 (19.6%) were found to have elevated alanine transaminase levels. These subjects were referred for participation in the study; 31 presented for enrollment. Sixteen (52%) of the 31 patients had previously used intravenous drugs, four (13%) had been transfused, two (6%) had a history of occupational exposure to blood, and three (10%) had tattoos and ear-piercing as possible risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis C. There was no history of parenteral exposure in six (16%). None of these donors had clinical evidence of liver disease, but in all 24 of the 31 who had a liver biopsy there was histological evidence of significant liver damage. Twelve had evidence of chronic active hepatitis. All 24 subjects biopsied were viraemic as judged by the presence of HCV RNA in serum.