USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN THE TREATMENT OF HUMAN BRUCELLOSIS

Over a 3-year period (from 1987 through 1989), the medical charts of 3 46 patients (between 14 and 89 years of age with a male to female rati o of 1.6:1) with brucellosis were reviewed to determine the efficacy o f various treatment regimens, Of 92 positive blood cultures, all the i solates were sensitive to tetracycline, streptomycin, and rifampicin; however, 17 isolates were resistant to co-trimoxazole. Various combina tions of tetracycline, streptomycin, co-trimoxazole, and rifampicin we re used for a prolonged period (3 months), Drugs were equally availabl e to all patients, The best results were obtained with tetracycline pl us streptomycin. Co-trimoxazole, when used alone, was found to be the least effective, with more failures and relapses.