Incidence of bacteremic melioidosis in eastern and northeastern Thailand

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 117 - 120
• Main Authors: Bhengsri, Saithip, Baggett, Henry C, Jorakate, Possawat, Kaewpan, Anek, Prapasiri, Prabda, Naorat, Sathapana, Thamthitiwat, Somsak, Tanwisaid, Kittisak, Chantra, Somrak, Salika, Prasert, Dejsirilert, Surang, Peruski, Leonard F, Maloney, Susan A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Bacteremia - epidemiology; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Endemic Diseases; Humans; Incidence; Melioidosis - epidemiology; Population Surveillance; Short Report; Thailand - epidemiology; Thailand
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0070

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is endemic in northeastern Thailand. Population-based disease burden estimates are lacking and limited data on melioidosis exist from other regions of the country. Using active, population-based surveillance, we measured the incidence of bacteremic melioidosis in the provinces of Sa Kaeo (eastern Thailand) and Nakhon Phanom (northeastern Thailand) during 2006-2008. The average annual incidence in Sa Kaeo and Nakhon Phanom per 100,000 persons was 4.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.9-6.1) and 14.9 (95% CI = 13.3-16.6). The respective population mortality rates were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.3-2.8) and 4.4 (95% CI = 3.6-5.3) per 100,000. The case-fatality proportion was 36% among those with known outcome. Our findings document a high incidence and case fatality proportion of bacteremic melioidosis in Thailand, including a region not traditionally considered highly endemic, and have potential implications for clinical management and health policy.