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Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases 11(1):p 23-29, Jan-Jun 2025. | DOI: 10.21088/ijcd.2395.6631.11125.4
Case Report
Melioidosis: A Neglected Entity or an Upcoming Menace
Seema P Mahant,, Sagar khadanga, Rashmi Verma, Akash Pawar
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases 11(1):p 23-29, Jan-Jun 2025. | DOI: 10.21088/ijcd.2395.6631.11125.4
How Cite This Article:
Mahant SP, Khadanga S, et al. Melioidosis: A Neglected entity or an Upcoming Menace. Indian J Comm Dis. 2025;11(1):23-29.Timeline
Received : July 10, 2025
Accepted : August 13, 2025
Published : June 30, 2025
Abstract
Melioidosis is a serious life threatening infectious disease that is potentially acquired by ingestion, inhalation or inoculation of gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions globally. It have capability to attack on hosts immune system, leading to the development of acute, subacute, or chronic invasive infections and clinical spectrum ranges from subclinical to fulminant septicemia with disseminated abscesses especially in immunocompromised patients like uncontrolled diabetic, CKD, chronic alcoholism. The disease is grossly under reported in our country, most probably due to lack of awareness as well as multiple symptoms imitate with other condition, without any specific identifying features. So even if diagnose at times, it is already too late or even after death. Therefore the importance of awareness and knowledge of this disease is of great importance. In centra India aiims Bhopal is recognized centre for diagnosis, and management of melioidosis, we diagnosed more than 100 cases in last 3 years. It presents with various clinical presentations like pneumonia, pyrexia of unknown origin, prostatic melioidosis, cutaneous melioidosis, neurologic melioidosis, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. It is a great mimicker of tuberculosis of any organ. The blood or abscess fluid culture continues is keystone of diagnosis. Prolong Intravenous therapy for 4 weeks (from 2 to 8 weeks) or until culture conversion followed by extended oral eradication therapy is essential to prevent relapse. The overall mortality is very high due to delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment, predominantly in resource-poor areas. Here, we are reporting eight cases of melioidosis from Madhya Predesh, all were treated successfully with intravenous meropenem followed by oral doxycycline and cotrimoxazole.
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest.
About this article
Cite this article
Mahant SP, Khadanga S, et al. Melioidosis: A Neglected entity or an Upcoming Menace. Indian J Comm Dis. 2025;11(1):23-29.
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2025 | August 13, 2025 | June 30, 2025 |
DOI: 10.21088/ijcd.2395.6631.11125.4
Keywords
MelioidosisBurkholderia PseudomalleiBioterrorismLack of Awareness.Search for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | July 10, 2025 |
| Accepted | August 13, 2025 |
| Published | June 30, 2025 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
