Evaluate all workers exposed to Brucella isolates* and classify exposures as either high risk or low risk¶. |
Recommend PEP for workers with high-risk exposures to Brucella isolates. PEP should be offered as soon as Brucella exposure has been identified and be administered for up to six months following exposure. |
- Administer doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) and rifampin (600 mg once daily) for three weeks.
|
- For individuals with exposure to Brucella abortus RB51 strain (which is resistant to rifampin), administer doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (160 mg/800 mg twice daily) for three weeks.
|
- For patients with contraindications to doxycycline or rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be used.
|
- Pregnant women with high-risk exposures should be considered for PEP in consultation with their obstetricians.
|
Discuss potential PEP with workers who have low-risk exposures to Brucella isolates; PEP may be warranted for patients who are immunocompromised or pregnant. |
Obtain baseline serum samples from all workers exposed to Brucella, unless exposed to B. abortus RB51 strain or B. canis (these strains do not elicit a measurable serologic response using available assays). |
Arrange for periodic serologic testing on all workers exposed to Brucella (6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks post exposure) using agglutination testing (eg, tube or Brucella microagglutination testing) at the state public health laboratory or CDC; serologic testing is not recommended for workers exposed to B. abortus RB51 strain or B. canis. |
Among workers with Brucella exposure, arrange for weekly symptom monitoring and daily temperature monitoring for six months following exposure. |