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Case Reports
. 2022 Dec 30;16(1):492.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-022-03702-2.

Brucellosis with rare complications and review of diagnostic tests: a case report

Arzu Altunçekiç Yildirim  1 , Celali Kurt  2 , Yeliz Çetinkol  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Brucellosis with rare complications and review of diagnostic tests: a case report

Arzu Altunçekiç Yildirim et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. Osteoarticular complications, especially vertebral system involvement, are most commonly reported. However, reports and coreports of pulmonary complications and thoracal spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess are rare.

Case presentation: Spondylodiscitis was detected at the T11-12 vertebral level, followed by epidural and paravertebral abscess, and then empyema was detected in a 17-year-old Asian female patient without any additional disease. The patient had used various antibiotics and the disease could not be proven bacteriologically. Also, the Rose Bengal test was negative. However, serologically high titer Brucella positivity was detected in the blood and pleural fluid sample. Drainage was required for bilateral empyema. Disease duration prolonged due to multiple complications. The patient was cured with combined long-term treatment for brucellosis.

Conclusions: Although some are rare, brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can cause many complications. The gold standard for diagnosis is the growth of bacteria in blood culture or tissue culture. However, isolation of the microorganism can be very difficult. Clinical suspicion and serological tests are important guides.

Keywords: Brucellosis; Empyema; Paravertebral abscess; Spondylodiscitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
T11-12 spondylodiscitis (affected vertebrae are shown in red box)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Epidural abscess and paravertebral abscess
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Thoracic computed tomography, mediastinal window: pleural fluid with dense content
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Thoracic computed tomography, lung window: pleural fluid with dense content
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
End-of-treatment lung X-ray
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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