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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | Melioidosis |
Subtitle of host publication | A Century of Observation and Research |
Editors | Natkunan Ketheesan |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Chapter | Section IV.2 |
Pages | 120-129 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780444534798 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |