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Changing epidemiology of melioidosis? A case of acute pulmonary melioidosis with fatal outcome imported from Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2005

H. AARDEMA ,
E. M. LUIJNENBURG ,
E. F. SALM ,
H. A. BIJLMER ,
C. E. VISSER  and
J. W. VAN'T WOUT
H. AARDEMA
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands
E. M. LUIJNENBURG
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
E. F. SALM
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
H. A. BIJLMER
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands
C. E. VISSER
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft, The Netherlands
J. W. VAN'T WOUT
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is endemic in South East Asia and tropical regions of Northern Australia. Sporadic cases have been described elsewhere. In this article we present a case of acute pulmonary melioidosis with fatal outcome imported from Brazil. The most common pathogen causing severe community-acquired pneumonia in Brazil is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Other possible pathogens include Legionella spp., Mycoplasma pneumonia, Gram-negative rods and viruses. There are few reports of melioidosis in the Americas. This article represents the second known human case of melioidosis from Brazil. Recognition of melioidosis as a possible cause of severe pneumonia, even if a patient has not been travelling in a highly endemic area, is important because of the therapeutic consequences. The epidemiology of melioidosis will be reviewed.

Type
Short Report
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 5 , October 2005 , pp. 871 - 875
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press