Identification of five serologically negative for Brucella infection clinical cases

Objective To analyze serologically negative Brucella infection clinical cases, and decrease the misdiagnosis of brucellosis. Methods This was a retrospective review of out or in-patients treated for brucellosis during 2011 to 2014 in our hospital. Five of all fifty-one cinical cases were negative in serological tests, using culture and PCR methods for identification of Brucella. Results All 5 patients had a history of epidemic exposure. The common clinical presentations included fever,hyperhidrosis and weakness. Five patients had been ever misdiagnosed as respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, Hematopathy and Rheumatic disease, respectively. After identification of Brucella, all 5 cases were cured after active medical management.Conclusion The clinical manifestation of brucellosis is various. Epidemiological feature combined with long-term fever of unknowno rigin may suggest the possibility of brucellosis. Blood culture and serum antibody assay are effective diagnostic tools but not enough. It needs the PCR methods for detection if necessary.