Retrospective Analysis of Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Laboratory Findings of Patients Diagnosed with Brucellosis and Review of the Literature.

Objective: Brucellosis has significant public health and human health consequences. It causes significant economic hardship, especially in areas where food safety measures, hygiene standards, and veterinary care are inadequate. This study aimed to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory results, complications, and treatment modalities of patients with brucellosis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged ≥18 years who were followed for brucellosis between December 2018 and December 2023 in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology clinics of two hospitals located in endemic provinces of Türkiye. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, focal complications, diagnostic methods, and treatment regimens were analyzed. Brucellosis was diagnosed based on compatible clinical findings together with culture positivity or serologic test results. Results: The study included 748 patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Of these, 484 (64.7%) were female, and the mean age was 39.2 ± 15.0 years. A significant proportion of patients (91%) lived in rural areas. Regarding transmission routes, 79.4% of patients reported consuming unpasteurized fresh cheese. Patients were categorized as follows: 72.7% had acute brucellosis, 20.6% had subacute brucellosis, and 6.7% had chronic brucellosis. The most frequently reported symptoms were joint pain (89%) and malaise (65.3%). A comparative analysis showed that patients with acute brucellosis had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels than those in other subgroups. The most prevalent laboratory findings were elevated CRP (50.3%), elevated ESR (37.6%), and anemia (33.3%). Hepatobiliary and osteoarticular complications developed in 22.6% and 6.5% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Brucellosis in this endemic region predominantly affected women and individuals living in rural areas and was strongly associated with the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Our findings emphasize the need for improved public awareness and preventive measures, particularly regarding safe dairy consumption, in endemic settings. Graphic Abstract: Graphic Abstract.