BRUCELLOSIS - AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL- REPORT OF 5 CASES

Five cases of laboratory-acquired infection with Brucella melitensis a re reported. This pathogen is highly contagious when handled in the la boratory. Clinicians should alert technologists when brucellosis is su spected so that specimens are handled under the most stringent safety measures. Serological surveys and instructions of laboratory workers r egarding the clinical diversity of the disease are helpful for early r ecognition of secondary cases. On the other hand, clinicians should co nsider brucellosis in medical laboratory workers,vith unexplained sign s and symptoms.