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When the farm turns fatal: a rare infection causing heart block

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Brucellosis, a zoonotic infection typically presenting with nonspecific symptoms, rarely leads to cardiac complications, particularly conduction abnormalities. We report a unique case of an 84-year-old female who presented with dizziness, bradycardia, and hypotension, ultimately diagnosed with complete heart block. On admission, blood cultures and further diagnostic workup identified Brucella bacteremia as the underlying cause, with further history revealing that she had recently traveled from a farm in Colombia, a brucellosis-endemic area. The patient underwent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation to stabilize her heart rhythm and was initiated on a three-month antibiotic regimen of doxycycline and rifampin. This case highlights the importance of considering brucellosis as a differential diagnosis for heart block in patients with recent travel from endemic regions. Early recognition and intervention, including antibiotic therapy and pacemaker placement when necessary, are essential for achieving favorable outcomes in brucellosis-related cardiac complications.

Source: Oxford Medical Case Reports

DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omaf010

Authors: Shaun Abid, Anton Stolear, Maxim Dulgher, Samdish Sethi, Stuart Zarich

Institutions: Bridgeport Hospital, Norwalk Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Brucella: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment

Subfield: Small Animals

Field: Veterinary

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,103