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Clinical and Microbiological Profile of Melioidosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kerala, India

Divya Vijayakumar Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Hridya Vikraman Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Poornima Baby Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Dipu Sathyapalan Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of General Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Amritavarshini Sreekumar Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Abitha Abdulla Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Athira Santhosh Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Gautham Sreekumar Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Lalitha Biswas Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Haritha Subhagan Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of General Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India;

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Harpreet Kaur Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India

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Mohammed Ashiq Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India;

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Raja Biswas Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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Anil Kumar Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India;

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0573
Volume/Issue:
Volume 112: Issue 4
Page(s):
849–853
Restricted access
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ABSTRACT.

Melioidosis is a neglected tropical infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is found in soil and water across tropical countries. The infection spectrum ranges from mild localized lesions to severe sepsis. The clinical presentation, severity, and outcome are influenced by the route of infection, bacterial load, strain virulence, and specific virulence genes of B. pseudomallei. This case series discusses nine melioidosis cases, highlighting the clinical and diagnostic challenges. It underscores the necessity for a high level of clinical suspicion to ensure a timely diagnosis and the prompt initiation of treatment.

Author Notes

Financial support: This study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research “MISSION Task Force project” (Ref. no: ECD/NTF/20/2022-23).

Disclosure: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (IEC-AIMS-2022-MICRO-118). Informed consent was obtained for all participants. The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Current contact information: Divya Vijayakumar, Hridya Vikraman, Poornima Baby, Dipu Sathyapalan, Abitha Abdulla, Haritha Subhagan, and Anil Kumar, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India, E-mails: divarchives@gmail.com, hridyakv1996@gmail.com, poornimasankar0709@gmail.com, diputsmck@gmail.com, abithaabdulla02@gmail.com, drharitha05mmc@gmail.com, and vanilkumar@aims.amrita.edu. Amritavarshini Sreekumar, Athira Santhosh, Lalitha Biswas, and Raja Biswas, Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India, E-mails: amritavarshinisnambiar@gmail.com, athirakadampanattu98@gmail.com, lalithabiswas@aims.amrita.edu, and rajabiswas@aims.amrita.edu. Gautham Sreekumar, Pattathil Veedu, Kollam, India, E-mail: sr.gautham07@gmail.com. Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay and Mohammed Ashiq, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India, E-mails: chiranjay.m@manipal.edu and drmohammedashiqs@gmail.com. Harpreet Kaur, Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family, Welfare, New Delhi, E-mail: kaurh.hq@icmr.gov.in.

Address correspondence to Anil Kumar, Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala 682041, India. E-mail: vanilkumar@aims.amrita.edu
Copyright:
© American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2025
Received:
25 Aug 2024
|
Accepted:
04 Nov 2024
|
Published Online:
14 Jan 2025
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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