What does Burkholderia pseudomallei cause?

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a serious disease affecting humans and animals. Infection with B. pseudomallei can lead to septicemia and pneumonia in susceptible individuals (Godoy et al., 2003). Melioidosis is also referred to as Whitmore disease.

How is Burkholderia pseudomallei naturally transmitted?

It is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil. It is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source.

Is Burkholderia pseudomallei motile?

Burkholderia pseudomallei, a facultatively intracellular pathogen, is a flagellated and motile gram-negative bacterium and is the causative agent of melioidosis in humans.

Is Burkholderia pseudomallei contagious?

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacteria that causes Melioidosis (or Whitmore’s disease), was first discovered in 1911 by pathologist Alfred Whitmore and his assistant. What is Melioidosis? Melioidosis is a highly contagious disease primarily infecting people in areas with agriculture and farming.

How is Burkholderia pseudomallei treated?

Depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease, treatment for B. pseudomallei is usually biphasic, starting with 10–14 days of intravenous therapy, followed by weeks to months of oral eradication therapy.

How do you get Burkholderia pseudomallei?

pseudomallei; infection is acquired through cutaneous inoculation, inhalation and aspiration. The factors associated with disease acquisition in endemic regions include environmental and host factors.

How do you test for Burkholderia pseudomallei?

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis infection commonly involves the lungs. Melioidosis is diagnosed with the help of blood, urine, sputum, or skin-lesion testing.

Is Burkholderia pseudomallei a lactose fermenter?

It is a lactose fermenter on MacConkey agar. d. Colonies on sheep blood agar at 48 hours appear small, smooth, and cream colored, and the organism is susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. pseudomallei is susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, which can be useful for confirming its identification.

Is Burkholderia pseudomallei oxidase positive?

A. Burkholderia pseudomallei is an oxidase-positive, aerobic gram-negative bacillus that is straight or slightly curved. The organism will grow on most standard laboratory media, such as sheep blood and chocolate and MacConkey agars, and it produces a characteristic musty odor (8).

What antibiotics treat melioidosis?

The main therapeutic options for melioidosis include beta-lactams (eg, ceftazidime, certain beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations), carbapenems, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), and doxycycline, depending on the phase of treatment.