Perspectives for the treatment of brucellosis in the 21st century: the ioanninarecommendations

Brucellosis remains the commonestanthropozoonosis worldwide, and itstreatment remains complex, requiringprotracted administration of morethan one antibiotic.• In November 2006, a consensusmeeting aimed at reaching a commonspecialist statement on the treatmentof brucellosis was held in Ioannina,Greece under the auspices of theInternational Society of Chemotherapyand the Institute of Continuing MedicalEducation of Ioannina.• The author panel suggests that theoptimal treatment of uncomplicatedbrucellosis should be based on asix-week regimen of doxycyclinecombined either with streptomycin for2–3 weeks, or rifampicin for six weeks.Gentamicin may be considered anacceptable alternative to streptomycin,while all other regimens/combinationsshould be considered second-line.• The development of a commonglobal therapeutic language forhuman brucellosis, and future,properly conducted clinical trialswould definitely solve controversiesregarding the disease.