Brucella pleurisy: An extremely rare complication of brucellosis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Brucella species are facultative intracellular bacteria known to cause zoonotic infections.
• Pulmonary involvement in brucellosis is uncommon, often presenting insidiously in sub-acute or chronic stages.
• Pleural effusion can occur as a manifestation of thoracic brucellosis.

Observation:

• This report describes a rare case of brucella pleurisy.
• The patient presented with chest pain, a symptom that prompted investigation.
• Diagnosis was confirmed through appropriate microbiological and clinical assessments.

Findings:

• Brucella pleurisy is an infrequent clinical presentation.
• The intracellular nature of Brucella allows for potential pleural space involvement.
• Chest pain was the primary presenting symptom in this case.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering Brucella in the differential diagnosis of pleurisy, especially in endemic areas.
• Underscores the varied clinical spectrum of brucellosis, including rare pulmonary and pleural manifestations.
• Emphasizes the need for heightened clinical suspicion for rare pathogens in patients with non-specific symptoms.