OBJECTIVE: To show the present spread of brucellosis in Almeriá Province. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Torrecárdenas Hospital, Almería. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 137 cases of brucellosis diagnosed between 1988 and 1990 in Almería province. Study of individualised statements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of brucellosis in Almería was 0.25, 2.25 and 3.07 times greater than that in the rest of the Spain during the years under study. 70.80% of cases came from the rural environment. 70.80% were declared in the spring-summer months. 67.88% of patients were male. 7.29% were paediatric cases. 42.31% belonged to a profession considered at risk. The means of infection was indirect in 46.71% of cases. The number of relapses was 10.21%. 3.64% were family cases. CONCLUSIONS: Brucellosis is endemic in the province of Almería. The situation shows no sign of improvement, because the hygienic-sanitary controls covering both dairy products for consumption and those professionals at risk are deficient.
OBJECTIVE: To show the present spread of brucellosis in Almeriá Province. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Torrecárdenas Hospital, Almería. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 137 cases of brucellosis diagnosed between 1988 and 1990 in Almería province. Study of individualised statements. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of brucellosis in Almería was 0.25, 2.25 and 3.07 times greater than that in the rest of the Spain during the years under study. 70.80% of cases came from the rural environment. 70.80% were declared in the spring-summer months. 67.88% of patients were male. 7.29% were paediatric cases. 42.31% belonged to a profession considered at risk. The means of infection was indirect in 46.71% of cases. The number of relapses was 10.21%. 3.64% were family cases. CONCLUSIONS:Brucellosis is endemic in the province of Almería. The situation shows no sign of improvement, because the hygienic-sanitary controls covering both dairy products for consumption and those professionals at risk are deficient.
Authors: C Hadjichristodoulou; E Soteriades; G Goutzianna; M Loukaidou; T Babalis; M Antoniou; J Delagramaticas; Y Tselentis Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 1999-03 Impact factor: 8.082