A 60-year-old male presented with urinary tract infection symptoms, including dysuria, frequency, and hematuria, along with flank pain and fever. Initial blood cultures, drawn due to fever, unexpectedly grew Brucella abortus. The patient's history revealed exposure to unpasteurized dairy products during recent travel to Mexico, which was crucial for diagnosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome sequencing. This case highlights the importance of considering travel history and consuming unpasteurized products when encountering unusual pathogens, even if the initial presentation suggests a common infection like a UTI.
Key note: Brucella bacteremia can be an incidental finding in patients presenting with common symptoms, necessitating thorough history taking.