Prevalence and Determinants of Focal Brucellosis in a Tertiary Healthcare Center in Taif, Saudi Arabia (2020-2023)

Background:The most commonly described complication of brucellosis in humans is the infection of bones and joints, which is predominantly reported in all ages and both sexes in high-risk regions.Thus, implementing early management and diagnostic modalities to identify high risk group for developing such complications is of vital importance.Objectives: To determine prevalence of focal-complicated-brucellosis and identify risk factors associated with focal disease.Material and methods: A retrospective chart-review study was conducted at the Infectious Disease Clinic, Alhada Military Hospital; Taif, Saudi Arabia included all Brucellosis cases diagnosed between 2020 and 2023.Data were collected from patient files based on ICD codes, positive culture of Brucella species or serology (titre 1:160 or more), and clinical manifestations suggestive of brucellosis.Results: A total of 146 patients with confirmed Brucellosis were included in the study.Their age ranged between 15 and 86 years with a meanSD of 53.017.2years.Almost two-thirds (64.4%) were males.Intake of unpasteurized milk products was the commonest reported mode of brucellas transmission (80.7%).The median (interquartile range) of Charlson Index was 2 (0-3).Slightly less than half (48.6%) of cases had focal brucellosis.With each increase in age by one year, there was an increase in the risk of developing focal brucellosis by 2% (adjusted odds ratio "aOR": 1.02, 95% confidence interval "CI": 1.001-1.04,p=0.037.Charlson Index was not significantly associated with development of focal brucellosis, after controlling for the effect of confounders.Conclusion: Focal brucellosis is a common status of patients with brucellosis.It is more likely to affect older patients.Thus, close monitoring of those patients is of vital importance.