To investigate the clinical manifestation, treatment and prognosis of brucellosis complicated with spondylitis.

The clinical data of 120 patients with brucellosis and spondylitis treated in Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang from January 2013 to May 2016 were analyzed, including 35 patients with spondylitis, 55 patients with disc involvement, 15 patients with bone destruction and 15 patients with abscess. Patients with spondylitis were treated with doxycycline and rifampicin (DR group) and patients with disc involvement with doxycycline + rifampicin + compound sulfampin plus cotrimoxazole (DRC group), patients with bone destruction and abscess were treated with doxycycline + rifamp Ping + compound sulfamethoxazole +levofloxacin (DRCL group). The clinical data, therapeutic effects, recurrence and adverse drug reactions were recorded, respectively.

The spinal nuclear magnetic fields of the patients presented with spondylitis, disc involvement and soft tissue abscess around bone destruction. The cure rates of 2 courses, 4 courses, longer than 4 courses of treatment, the recurrence rate and adverse drug reaction rate of patients in DR group were 14.3%, 82.9%, 17.1%, 28.6% and 5.7%, respectively; which were 38.2%, 94.5%, 5.5%, 5.5% and 1.8% of patients in DRC group; and 0%, 20%, 80%, 0% and 3.33% of patients in DRCL group, respectively. After two courses of treatment, the cure rate of DRC group was significantly higher than that of DR group (χ²= 18.26,P< 0.001). After 4 courses of treatment, the cure rate in DRCL group was significantly lower than that of DR group and DRC group (allP< 0.001), the cure rate of DRCL group was significantly higher than that of the other two groups after longer than 4 courses of treatment (allP< 0.001). The recurrence rate in DRCL group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups (χ²= 16.692,P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in adverse drug reactions among the three groups (χ²= 1.008,P= 0.604).

The relapse rate of multiple drugs combined with long course of treatment for spondylitis of brucellosis is low, which could reach the ideal end point, and does not necessarily increase the incidence of adverse drug reactions.