Posttreatment follow-up of brucellosis by PCR assay

In order to evaluate the usefulness of a peripheral blood PCR assay in the posttreatment follow-up of brucellosis, a cohort of 30 patients was studied by means of blood cultures, rose Bengal, seroagglutination, Coombs' antibr ucella tests, and PCR assay at the time of diagnosis, at the end of treatme nt, and 2, 4, and 6 months later. Of the 29 patients whose PCR assays were initially positive, 28 (96.5%) were negative at the conclusion of the treat ment. PCR was positive for the two patients who had relapses and negative f or another four who had suspected but unconfirmed relapses. PCR was negativ e for 98.3% of the follow-up samples from those patients who had a favorabl e evolution. In conclusion, PCR appears to be a very useful technique, not only for the initial diagnosis of the disease, but also for posttreatment f ollow-up and the early detection of relapses.