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Also known as Whitmore's Disease

Caused by a gram negative bacteria Burkholderia Pseudomallei.

B. Pseudomallei is an aerobic, motile bacillus.

Colony appears on Ashdown's agar as irregular-edge and pale purple

Found in contaminated soil and water

Previously endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. As of 2022, endemic in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi

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Incubation period is unclear. It can be anywhere from 1 day to many years.

General symptoms typically appear 1-21 days after exposure.

Untreated, Melioidosis has a mortality rate of 100%

When treated, mortality rate drops to 20-30%

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Localized skin infection

-pain, fever, ulceration, abcess

Pulmonary Infection

-Cough, chest pain, high fever, headache, anorexia

Blood infection

-fever, headache, respiratory distress, abdominal or joint pain, disorientation

Disseminated infection

- fever, weight loss, stomach or chest pain, muscle or joint pain, headache, Central Nervous System or Brain infection, Seizures

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Serious complications include:

Septicemia

Organ failure

Pneumothorax (collapsed thorax)

Cardiac tamponade (fluid buildup in the pericardial area)

Recurrence of infection

Inflammation of the brain and brain covering or brain abscess

Pyelonephritis, kidney abscess or prostatic abscesses

Neck or salivary gland abscesses

Liver, spleen, or paraintestinal abscesses

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Melioidosis can affect almost any organ in the body. It can often mimic various diseases. This infection can also lie dormant for many months to years before symptoms of an infection emerge.

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Prompt cleaning of wounds and skin lesions

Protective clothing such as rubber boots and gloves

Individuals with Diabetes and skin lesions need to avoid contact with contaminated soil and standing water.

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Diabetes

Liver Diease

Renal Disease

Thalassemia

Cancer

Chronic Lung Disease

Open wounds and skin lesions

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B. Pseudomallei is transmitted by coming in contact with contaminated water and soil. Either by topical contact or ingesting contaminated water.

Humans or animals may become infected.

It is not transmitted person to person.

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The standard treatment for melioidosis includes

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The standard treatment for melioidosis includes

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Treatment is in 2 phases:

Intensive phase, in which regimens containing some of the following drugs may be used:

Cotrimoxazole

Ceftazidime

Meropenem

Filgrastim (G-CSF) in case of septic shock

The intensive phase is carried on for 14 days or more depending on the infection

Eradication phase, which may include some of the following drugs:

Cotrimoxazole

Doxycycline

Amoxycillin

Chloramphenicol

The eradication phase is carried on for 3-6 months.