What is Melioidosis?

What is Melioidosis?

• Melioidosis: Bacterial infection from soil or water.
• Melioidosis: A species of gram-negative, aerobic bacteria that causes MELIOIDOSIS. It has been isolated from soil and water in tropical regions, particularly Southeast Asia.
  Source - Diseases Database

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Melioidosis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Name and Aliases of Melioidosis

Main name of condition: Melioidosis

Whitmore’s disease

Burkholderia pseudomallei, Pseudoglanders, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, Whitmore's disease Source - Diseases Database

Types of Melioidosis:

Subtypes of Melioidosis: Burkholderia pseudomallei, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, Chronic suppurative melioidosis
Parent types of Melioidosis: Bacterial Diseases, Bioterrorism, Diseases contagious from contaminated water

How many people get Melioidosis?

Incidence (annual) of Melioidosis: 0-5 cases annually (DBMD)
Incidence Rate of Melioidosis: approx 1 in 0 or 0.00% or 0 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Melioidosis: In the United States, confirmed cases range from none to five each year and occur among travelers and immigrants. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)

Who gets Melioidosis?

Geography Profile for Melioidosis: Melioidosis is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia where it is endemic. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)

How serious is Melioidosis?

Complications of Melioidosis: see complications of Melioidosis

What causes Melioidosis?

Causes of Melioidosis: The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil and are spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)
Class of Condition for Melioidosis: bacterial
Causes of Melioidosis: see causes of Melioidosis
Risk factors for Melioidosis: see risk factors for Melioidosis

What are the symptoms of Melioidosis?

Incubation period for Melioidosis: a few days
Incubation period for Melioidosis: The incubation period (time between exposure and appearance of clinical symptoms) is not clearly defined, but may range from 2 days to many years. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)

Can anyone else get Melioidosis?

Contagion of Melioidosis: Not contagious.
More information: see contagiousness of Melioidosis

How is it treated?

Treatments for Melioidosis: see treatments for Melioidosis
Prevention of Melioidosis: see prevention of Melioidosis

Society issues for Melioidosis

Hospitalization statistics for Melioidosis: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Melioidosis:

• 0% (5) of hospital consultant episodes were for glanders and melioidosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 100% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 60% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 40% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 60% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 16.4 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for glanders and melioidosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 14 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for glanders and melioidosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 35 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for glanders and melioidosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 80% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0% of hospital consultant episodes for glanders and melioidosis were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.0002% (84) of hospital bed days were for glanders and melioidosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)