Melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei in drinking water, Thailand, 2012

Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Feb;20(2):265-8. doi: 10.3201/eid2002.121891.

Abstract

We identified 10 patients in Thailand with culture-confirmed melioidosis who had Burkholderia pseudomallei isolated from their drinking water. The multilocus sequence type of B. pseudomallei from clinical specimens and water samples were identical for 2 patients. This finding suggests that drinking water is a preventable source of B. pseudomallei infection.

Keywords: Burkholderia pseudomallei; Thailand; bacteria; drinking water; genotyping; melioidosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / classification
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / genetics*
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Bacterial / classification*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drinking Water / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melioidosis / diagnosis
  • Melioidosis / epidemiology*
  • Melioidosis / microbiology
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Seasons
  • Thailand / epidemiology

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Drinking Water