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

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Oxford Medical Case Reports.

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.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omaf010

Publication Date

4-2025

Identifier

Shaun Abid, Anton Stolear, Maxim Dulgher, Samdish Sethi, Stuart Zarich, When the farm turns fatal: a rare infection causing heart block, Oxford Medical Case Reports, Volume 2025, Issue 4, April 2025, omaf010, https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omaf010

e-ISSN

2053-8855

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