Case Report

Epididymo-Orchitis due to Brucellosis: Not Only to Be Considered in Endemic Areas
Two Cases for the Price of Three Patients
A.A. Moens^a, F. Vlaspolder^b, J. Verlind^c, J.M. Sepers^a, F. Stam<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Internal Medicine,
^bLaboratory of Medical Microbiology and
^cDepartment of Urology, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

Address of Corresponding Author

Urol Int 2009;82:481-483 (DOI: 10.1159/000218542)

  Key Words

• Epididymo-orchitis
• Brucellosis
• Brucella melitensis

  Abstract

We report 2 patients with epididymo-orchitis, caused by Brucella melitensis, accompanied by severe delay of diagnosis. In 1 patient the correct diagnosis was only suspected after his wife had been diagnosed with brucellosis. Our cases illustrate that diagnosing brucellosis can be difficult in nonendemic areas, especially when physicians are unfamiliar with it. Important clues pointing to brucellosis as cause of epididymo-orchitis are a travel history to endemic areas, unresponsiveness to empiric antibiotic treatment, and a preceding period of episodic subfebrile temperature, night sweats and fatigue. Serology is the diagnostic test of choice because it is faster and more sensitive than blood cultures. Delay of diagnosis may lead to serious complications. Therefore, alertness for brucellosis is warranted, also, if not especially, in nonendemic areas.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Arwen Moens
Department of Internal Medicine
Medical Center Alkmaar
NL-1815 JD Alkmaar (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 72 5482 826, Fax +31 72 5482 165, E-Mail a.a.moens@mca.nl

  Article Information

Received: December 10, 2008
Accepted: January 20, 2009
Published online: June 08, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 11