Brucellosis is hyperendemic in Saudi Arabia. We report infection in a breast implant as an unusual complication of laboratory-acquired
brucellosis. A 48-year-old female developed fever, rigors, headache, arthralgia and weight loss. A blood culture for Brucella was positive. A 6-week course of antibiotics effected a clinical and bacteriological cure but the resolution was short-lived.
Six weeks later a relapse of her febrile symptoms occurred together with the appearance of a breast abscess. Cultures of the
abscess and blood yielded brucella. A second course of antibiotics together with surgical drainage and subsequent reconstruction
resulted in a cure.
Key WordsBrucella - Breast implant - Saudi Arabia - Prosthesis - Laboratory-acquired infection
Received: August 30, 2000 · Revision accepted: July 10, 2001