Abstract
◊ Melioidosis is characterised by fever, pneumonia, and abscesses, although there is a spectrum of severity from mild, localised infections to disseminated infection causing rapidly fatal sepsis.Glanders is uncommon in humans.
◊ Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion from the clinical presentation, and must be confirmed by culture of B pseudomallei (or B mallei).
◊ Initial intensive intravenous antibiotic treatmentis the mainstay oftherapy in most patients and may be required for weeks, depending on clinical circumstances. This is followed by a minimum of 3 months of oral eradication therapy to reduce the risk of relapse.
◊ Mortality associated with melioidosis is still up to 50% in many endemic regions, but as low as 10% if there is access to timely diagnosis, appropriate antibiotics, and state-of-the-art intensive supportive care.
◊ Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion from the clinical presentation, and must be confirmed by culture of B pseudomallei (or B mallei).
◊ Initial intensive intravenous antibiotic treatmentis the mainstay oftherapy in most patients and may be required for weeks, depending on clinical circumstances. This is followed by a minimum of 3 months of oral eradication therapy to reduce the risk of relapse.
◊ Mortality associated with melioidosis is still up to 50% in many endemic regions, but as low as 10% if there is access to timely diagnosis, appropriate antibiotics, and state-of-the-art intensive supportive care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 1-39 |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Specialist publication | BMJ Best Practice |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Nov 2016 |