How is Burkholderia pseudomallei treated?

Depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease, treatment for B. pseudomallei is usually biphasic, starting with 10–14 days of intravenous therapy, followed by weeks to months of oral eradication therapy.

Is Burkholderia pseudomallei contagious?

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacteria that causes Melioidosis (or Whitmore’s disease), was first discovered in 1911 by pathologist Alfred Whitmore and his assistant. What is Melioidosis? Melioidosis is a highly contagious disease primarily infecting people in areas with agriculture and farming.

What is the most common reported acute clinical manifestation of Burkholderia?

Pneumonia is the most common presenting feature of melioidosis, the disease caused by infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei [1, 2]. This environmental bacterium is found in soil and water in tropical regions.

How is Burkholderia pseudomallei naturally transmitted?

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. It is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source.

Can you cure melioidosis?

When a melioidosis infection is diagnosed, the disease can be treated with the use of appropriate medication. The type of infection and the course of treatment will impact long-term outcome.

Is there a vaccine for melioidosis?

At present, there are no human vaccines available for immunization against melioidosis. Because of these challenges, the development of medical countermeasures to combat melioidosis has become a priority in recent years (16).

Should I be worried about melioidosis?

While the average American doesn’t need to be overly concerned about melioidosis, associate professor Direk Limmathurotsakul, with the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit and Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand, said people should stay aware of the disease, adopt “recommended …

How serious is melioidosis?

Melioidosis is a disease that strikes fear in those who’ve heard of it. Doctors in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia know it as a stubborn, potentially deadly infection that causes pneumonia, abscesses and, in the most severe cases, organ failure. Without treatment, it can kill within 48 hours.

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%.

What are the characteristics of the disease melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei?

pseudomallei experience no symptoms, but those who do experience symptoms have signs and symptoms that range from mild, such as fever, skin changes, pneumonia, and abscesses, to severe with inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the joints, and dangerously low blood pressure that causes death.

How does Burkholderia pseudomallei enter the body?

pseudomallei by contact with polluted water. The bacteria enter the body through wounds, inhalation, or ingestion. Person-to-person or animal-to-human transmission is extremely rare. The infection is constantly present in Southeast Asia, particularly in northeast Thailand and northern Australia.

What is melioidosis?

Melioidosis, also known as Whitmore’s disease, is a bacterial infection that can affect both people and animals. It’s caused by bacteria called B. pseudomallei. These bacteria can contaminate water or soil. People can get the disease when they: Breathe in affected water or dust.