Hypothermia with pneumonia: a rare presentation of brucellosis

To report a very rare form of brucellosis presenting with hypothermia and pneumonia.

A 41-year-old male shepherd presented with a depressed level of consciousness. Clinically, his rectal temperature was 29.5°C, and he was cold, apathetic, hyporeflexic, and hypotensive, with atrial fibrillation. He had clinical and radiological evidence of bilateral bronchopneumonia. Blood culture and serologic testing were positive for Brucella melitensis. The patient recovered completely after proper management of the hypothermia and treatment of the brucellosis with antibiotics (doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 6 weeks and streptomycin 1 g i.m. daily for 21 days).

This case shows that brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of septicemic patients presenting with hypothermia.