How many cases of melioidosis are there?
Of 120 cases reviewed (Supplemental Appendix 1), 95 cases (79%) were believed to have had acquired the infection in the Americas (Table 1, Figure 2). The remaining 25 cases (Table 2) were either born in or had travel history to melioidosis-endemic countries….Table 1.
| Number of cases | |
|---|---|
| Grand Total | 95 |
What is the mortality rate of melioidosis?
A significant number of melioidosis patients died from the disease, and overall, the total mortality rate was around 21%.
Is melioidosis a notifiable disease?
Melioidosis is a notifiable disease in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. A case was included if cultures from any body site were positive for B. pseudomallei and the patient presented with a illness consistent with melioidosis during the period between 1 November 2001 and 31 October 2002.
Is melioidosis common?
Melioidosis is most frequently reported in southeast Asia, northern Australia, south Asia (including India), and China. The majority of patients are from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and northern Australia. Melioidosis has also been reported in Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
How serious is melioidosis?
Melioidosis can be a serious disease. Melioidosis germs are naturally resistant to many commonly used antibiotics, which makes the disease difficult to treat. There are a few antibiotics that are effective, though. Without treatment, up to 9 out of every 10 people who get it die.
Is melioidosis in the USA?
Melioidosis is a tropical disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei and commonly found in Southeast Asia. At this time, it is not considered endemic in the United States. As a result, melioidosis is not commonly considered in patients from the United States who have not traveled internationally.
What are the symptoms of melioidosis?
Symptoms of disseminated melioidosis infection include fever, weight loss, stomach or chest pain, muscle or joint pain, headache, and seizures. localised infections may present with pain, localised swelling, skin infection, ulceration, and abscess formation (with associated fever and muscle aches and pains).
How is melioidosis treated?
Treatment generally starts with intravenous (within a vein) antimicrobial therapy for a minimum of 2 weeks (up to 8 weeks depending on extent of infection), followed by 3–6 months of oral antimicrobial therapy.
Where is melioidosis most common?
It is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil.
How do you test for melioidosis?
Diagnosis. Melioidosis is diagnosed by isolating Burkholderia pseudomallei from blood, urine, sputum, skin lesions, or abscesses; or by detecting an antibody response to the bacteria.
How long can you live with melioidosis?
This Germ Can Live Decades In Distilled Water, Kill Humans In 48 Hours. A colored enhanced scanning electron micrograph of Burkholderia pseudomallei. These motile bacteria are the cause of melioidosis, a tropical disease spread through contaminated water and soil.
What are the signs of melioidosis?
Symptoms of melioidosis
- cough with normal sputum (the mixture of saliva and mucus that can rise into the throat from coughing) or no sputum, called a nonproductive cough.
- chest pain during breathing.
- high fever.
- headache and general muscle soreness.
- weight loss.