Leningraders told about the hidden threat of the tropics, the infection of the “great imitator”

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. This microorganism lives in the soil and fresh water of humid tropical and subtropical regions. The geography of distribution covers Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The risk of infection increases sharply after natural disasters - hurricanes, floods and heavy rains, when bacteria rise to the surface along with dirt and dust. About how to avoid infection with this insidious disease, told in the press service of the interregional management of Rospotrebnadzor.

Infection enters the body in four main ways, through skin damage (scratches, abrasions, cuts), by direct contact with mucous membranes, by inhaling dust containing particles of contaminated earth, by consuming contaminated water or unwashed products.

Transmission from person to person is almost non-existent. But why is he called the "great imitator"?

The clinical picture of melioidosis is extremely diverse, which is why it is often confused with other diseases:

Acute form: manifested by a sharp rise in temperature, severe pain in the muscles and chest, cough with purulent (sometimes bloody) sputum, diarrhea and the formation of abscesses in the internal organs.

Chronic form: can last for months or even years, completely mimicking the course of tuberculosis.

Latent form: the infection sleeps for years in the body and is suddenly activated with any weakening of the immune system.

Severe course and high mortality are most often threatened by people with the following conditions, diabetes mellitus (a key risk factor), chronic diseases of the lungs, kidneys and liver, any immunodeficiencies, including HIV/AIDS, chronic alcoholism, age over 45 years, long-term use of corticosteroids.

Occupational risk groups include farmers, builders and military personnel whose work involves constant contact with soil and water in endemic zones.

Diagnostics

The “gold standard” for detecting melioidosis is the bacteriological sowing of biomaterials (blood, urine, sputum or pus). The difficulty is that standard commercial laboratory systems often mistakenly identify the bacterium as another microorganism. For an accurate diagnosis, doctors need special testing algorithms.

Treatment and prognosis

Therapy requires long-term, combined antibiotic therapy, which is divided into intensive and maintenance phases. Without medical intervention, the disease leads to death in 90% of cases. With the timely start of intensive care, mortality is reduced to 15-40%. The main threats to life are the development of sepsis and the formation of multiple purulent abscesses in various organs.

Prevention for travellers

There is no specific melioidosis vaccine for humans.

Doctors remind to minimize the risks of a dangerous disease, it is necessary to follow strict rules: to avoid any contact with contaminated soil and stagnant water, especially in the presence of wounds on the skin, when working in the garden or on a construction site, wear closed shoes and durable gloves, refuse to bathe in fresh natural reservoirs, use exclusively bottled or pre-boiled water, thoroughly wash and thermally process all food.

An important rule after returning: Melioidosis can occur months or even years after the trip. If you experience an unexplained fever or a sharp deterioration in health after returning from an endemic region, you should immediately consult a doctor. Be sure to inform a specialist about the fact of a recent trip – this detail is critical for correct and quick diagnosis.