TY - JOUR
T1 - An Outbreak of Brucellosis
T2 - An Adult and Pediatric Case Series
AU - Hassouneh, Linda
AU - Quadri, Syeda
AU - Reto, Patricia Pichilingue
AU - Chaisavaneeyakorn, Sujittra
AU - Cutrell, James B.
AU - Wetzel, Dawn M.
AU - Nijhawan, Ank E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Background: Brucellosis is recognized as a neglected zoonotic disease and a major public health threat. The purpose of this study was to characterize epidemiological risk factors and healthcare utilization and compare clinical aspects of disease among adult and pediatric cases in North Texas. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was completed at 3 large tertiary centers-Parkland Health and Hospital System, Clements University Hospital, and Children's Medical Center-between January 1, 2007 and June 1, 2017. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were collected. Cases were defined as confirmed or probable. Results: Twenty-eight cases of brucellosis were identified: 26 confirmed (9 children, 17 adults) and 2 probable cases (1 child, 1 adult). Half (n = 14) were diagnosed in 2016 during an outbreak in Dallas County. Risk factors associated with infection were consumption of unpasteurized cheese (71%), recent travel (54%), close contact to a confirmed human brucellosis case (36%), and exposure to animals (11%). Median days of symptoms was 10 and 16 for children and adults, respectively. The majority (79%) of patients visited the emergency department before diagnosis and 93% were hospitalized. Fever was the most common symptom in children (80%) and adults (100%). Hepatitis (75% of children) and anemia (82% of adults) were the most common laboratory abnormalities. The most common complication in children was splenic lesions (40%), and the most common complication in adults was hepato/splenomegaly (39%). Conclusions: The diagnosis of Brucella infection requires a high index of suspicion and should be considered in patients presenting with a febrile illness and a compatible exposure history.
AB - Background: Brucellosis is recognized as a neglected zoonotic disease and a major public health threat. The purpose of this study was to characterize epidemiological risk factors and healthcare utilization and compare clinical aspects of disease among adult and pediatric cases in North Texas. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was completed at 3 large tertiary centers-Parkland Health and Hospital System, Clements University Hospital, and Children's Medical Center-between January 1, 2007 and June 1, 2017. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were collected. Cases were defined as confirmed or probable. Results: Twenty-eight cases of brucellosis were identified: 26 confirmed (9 children, 17 adults) and 2 probable cases (1 child, 1 adult). Half (n = 14) were diagnosed in 2016 during an outbreak in Dallas County. Risk factors associated with infection were consumption of unpasteurized cheese (71%), recent travel (54%), close contact to a confirmed human brucellosis case (36%), and exposure to animals (11%). Median days of symptoms was 10 and 16 for children and adults, respectively. The majority (79%) of patients visited the emergency department before diagnosis and 93% were hospitalized. Fever was the most common symptom in children (80%) and adults (100%). Hepatitis (75% of children) and anemia (82% of adults) were the most common laboratory abnormalities. The most common complication in children was splenic lesions (40%), and the most common complication in adults was hepato/splenomegaly (39%). Conclusions: The diagnosis of Brucella infection requires a high index of suspicion and should be considered in patients presenting with a febrile illness and a compatible exposure history.
KW - Brucella
KW - brucellosis
KW - case series
KW - outbreak
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U2 - 10.1093/ofid/ofz384
DO - 10.1093/ofid/ofz384
M3 - Article
C2 - 31660348
AN - SCOPUS:85095939668
SN - 2328-8957
VL - 6
JO - Open Forum Infectious Diseases
JF - Open Forum Infectious Diseases
IS - 10
M1 - ofz384
ER -