Nervous system brucellosis: diagnosis and treatment

We treated six patients with nervous system brucellosis causing polyradiculitis (2 patients), myelopathy (2), encephalitis (1), or meningitis (1). Diagnosis was based on Brucella species cultured from one patient, and a twofold or greater rise in antibody titer after therapy was started in the others. Treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with rifampin (5 patients) or tetracycline (1 patient) produced excellent clinical and laboratory response.