is an often fatal infectious disease caused by the environmental bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis is often misdiagnosed because it causes wide range of symptoms which often mimic those of other tropical diseases. Diagnosis requires high suspicion/recognition by treating physicians and confirmation by isolation of B. pseudomallei from any clinical specimen such as blood, urine, sputum and pus. However, isolation and identification of B. pseudomallei require specific microbiology facilities and experienced microbiologists. The mortality rate of untreated patients could be up to 90%, and many die before the diagnosis is made. Thus, the burden of this disease is largely hidden

 

The organism is present in soil and water in the endemic areas, and infection is acquired through skin inoculation or contamination of wounds, ingestion and inhalation.

 

[Melioidosis Fact Sheet from Northern Territory, Australia, 2016]