Brucella melitensis: a rarely suspected cause of infections of genitalia and the lower urinary tract
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 13(2): 86-89, Apr. 2009. graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-538210
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
We examined the clinical presentation and outcome of Brucellar infections of genitalia and the lower urinary tract through a review of the medical records of 10 cases of male patients with brucellar infections of the genitalia and lower urinary tract. The mean age of the patients with brucellosis was 49.2, (median 52, range 15-77 years). Eleven out of 17 patients were rural residents, 15 reported that they might have consumed unpasteurized dairy products) and four reported occupational exposure. Symptoms onset was acute in almost all cases. Scrotal pain, epidedimal swelling and fever were the most common symptoms. The Wright test was positive in 13 patients, while Brucella sp. was isolated from blood cultures in six cases. Only two patients were found with abnormal liver ultrasonography. All patients underwent treatment with doxycycline and aminoglycoside for seven days and doxycycline alone for two months. Most of them responded to antibiotic therapy with rapid regression of symptoms. One patient failed to respond to therapy and presented necrotizing orchitis, as well as abscesses, which required orchectomy. Brucellar infections of the genitalia and lower urinary tract have no specific clinical presentation; the usual laboratory examination is not sufficient to diagnose this kind of infection, therefore it could easily be misdiagnosed. An analytical medical history (including overall dietary habits and recent consumption of non-pasteurized dairy products) could indicate Brucelosis as would the persistence of symptoms despite a one-week antibiotic treatment. In general, patients afflicted by brucellar epididymoorchitis respond to Brucellosis antibiotic therapy, except for some rare cases that present necrotizing orchitis and require surgical treatment.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
SDG3 - Target 3.9 Reduce the amount of deaths produced by dangerous chemicals and the pollution of the air, water and soil
/
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Occupational Exposures
/
Neglected Diseases
/
Zoonoses
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Orchitis
/
Brucellosis
/
Brucella melitensis
/
Epididymitis
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Greece
Institution/Affiliation country:
General Hospital of Elefsina Thriassio/GR