Paediatric melioidosis

Olivia Jarrett; Soputhirith Seng; Dominic A Fitzgerald

doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2023.11.002

Paediatric melioidosis

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2023 Nov 24:S1526-0542(23)00079-9. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2023.11.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Olivia Jarrett¹, Soputhirith Seng², Dominic A Fitzgerald³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia. Electronic address: olivia.jarrett@health.nsw.gov.au.
² Department of Respiratory and Allergology, National Pediatric Hospital, Cambodia.
³ Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 38245464
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2023.11.002

Abstract

Melioidosis is a tropical infectious disease caused by the saprophytic gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Despite the infection being endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia, the broad clinical presentations and diagnostic difficulties limit its early detection, particularly in children. Melioidosis more commonly affects the immunocompromised and adults. Melioidosis is increasingly being diagnosed around the world and whole-genome sequencing indicates that these cases are not linked with travel to endemic areas. Research has concentrated on the adult population with limited experience reported in the care of this uncommon, but potentially fatal condition in children presenting with bacteraemia and pneumonia.

Keywords: Bronchiectasis; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Children; Melioidosis; Pneumonia.

Publication types

Review