BRUCELLOSIS - IMPORTED AND LABORATORY-ACQUIRED CASES, AND AN OVERVIEWOF TREATMENT TRIALS

Following the successful eradication of Brucella abortus infection in cattle, human brucellosis in England and Wales has become an uncommon imported disease. Culture of the organism presents a major laboratory hazard, and difficulties in identification may occur using a biochemic al test-strip method. An overview of recent treatment trials of brucel losis indicates that regimens combining streptomycin and doxycycline a re associated with a higher success rate (judged by the frequency of t reatment failure and relapse following therapy) than combinations of r ifampicin and doxycycline.