Characteristics of B. melitensis versus B. abortus bacteraemias.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiological and the clinical characteristics of bacteremic brucellosis.

METHODS

A prospective study, performed in the First Infectious Diseases Clinic of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital. All the patients had positive culture result for Brucella spp.

RESULTS

Fifty-four acute bacteremic brucellosis cases were included. The majority of patients (76%) were from rural Anatolia. Brucella melitensis serotypes were more common than Brucella abortus (83% versus 17%). Fever and arthralgia were the most common symptoms. The number of patients with back pain and arthralgia was higher in B. abortus infected group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

B. melitensis is the most common subtype of Brucella infection in Turkey. The infections with B. abortus spp. are not less severe than the infections with B. melitensis.