Endemic Melioidosis in Central Taiwan-A Longitudinal Case Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Front Med (Lausanne)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Apr 24

PMID 37089599

Authors

Ting Ting Ling

Su-Yin Lee

Shih-Ming Tsao

Keng-Wei Liang

Wei-Yao Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Melioidosis is a systemic and suppurative disease endemic in the Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, most cases are reported in the southern region and no relevant profiles have been reported in central region. In this study, we performed the epidemiologic and clinical analyses from the melioidosis cases in central Taiwan.

Methods: The demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and outcome profiles were collected retrospectively and analyzed from patients whom was isolated from clinical specimens during the 12-year study period (2011-2022).

Results: Totally 11 melioidosis cases (10 males and 1 female) were diagnosed, among them only 2 (18.2%) cases lived in suburban areas. Seven (63.6%) cases were diagnosed during 2019-2020, and diabetes mellitus was the most relevant comorbidity (5, 45.4%). All cases presented with fever at arrival, but only 4 (36.4%) and 2 (18.2%) cases presented with dyspnea and shock, respectively. Pneumonitis and extrapulmonary involvement were found in 5 cases (45.4%) each. Appropriate empiric and targeted antibiotic treatments were found in 4 (36.4%) and 10 (91.0%) case, respectively. Two cases (18.2%) succumbed to infection despite appropriate treatment including targeted antibiotics.

Conclusion: Melioidosis has become endemic in central Taiwan. Septic patients who present with suppurative or undetermined foci and have unsatisfied responses to standard treatment should arouse clinicians to take melioidosis into consideration.

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