Chronic melioidosis, relapse and latency

Direk Limmathurotsakul, Gavin C.K.W Koh, Sharon J Peacock, Bart Currie

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Chronic melioidosis is the presence of symptoms for two or more months prior to presentation, and may mimic many diseases, including tuberculosis and cancer. Latent melioidosis is a retrospective term used to describe individuals who develop clinical features of infection many months or years after exposure to Burkholderia pseudomallei and presumed infection. There is usually no recollection of a febrile illness around the time of exposure in these cases, and the onset of clinical melioidosis is often associated with a deteriorating host immune response. Recurrentmelioidosis is the development of a further episode of B. pseudomallei infection and is due to relapse following failure to eradicate the organism, or re-infection with a new B. pseudomallei strain. Risk factors for relapse include short duration and choice of antimicrobial therapy for the primary infection; no risk factors have been identified for re-infection other than re-exposure to B. pseudomallei. Understanding specific risk factors for relapse and re-infection could result in better preventive strategies.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMelioidosis
Subtitle of host publicationA Century of Observation and Research
EditorsNatkunan Ketheesan
PublisherElsevier
ChapterSection IV.2
Pages120-129
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780444534798
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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