Hypothermia with Pneumonia: A Rare Presentation of Brucellosis

Objective: To report a very rare form of brucellosis presenting with hypothermia and pneumonia. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 41-year-old male shepherd presented with a depressed level of consciousness. Clinically, his rectal temperature was 29.5 ° C, and he was cold, apathetic, hyporeflexic, and hypotensive, with atrial fibrillation. He had clinical and radiological evidence of bilateral bronchopneumonia. Blood culture and serologic testing were positive for Brucella melitensis . The patient recovered completely after proper management of the hypothermia and treatment of the brucellosis with antibiotics (doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 6 weeks and streptomycin 1 g i.m. daily for 21 days). Conclusion: This case shows that brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of septicemic patients presenting with hypothermia. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel