Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
Lipidico Injection Protocol for Serial Crystallography Measurements at the Australian Synchrotron
Published on: September 23, 2020
Melioidosis: An Australian Perspective
Simon Smith1,2, Josh Hanson3,4,5, Bart J Currie6,7
1Department of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia. simon.smith2@health.qld.gov.au.
Abstract:
Burkholderia pseudomallei is endemic in northern Australia, with cases of melioidosis most commonly occurring during the wet season in individuals with diabetes, hazardous alcohol use, and chronic kidney disease. Pneumonia is the most common presentation and the majority of patients are bacteraemic-however, infection may involve almost any organ, with the skin and soft tissues, genitourinary system, visceral organs, and bone and joints affected most commonly. Central nervous system involvement is rarer, but has a high attributable mortality. Increased awareness of the disease amongst healthcare providers, ready access to appropriate antibiotic therapy and high-quality intensive care services has resulted in a sharp decline in the case fatality rate over the last 20 years. Further improvement in clinical outcomes will require a greater understanding of the disease's pathophysiology, its optimal management, and more effective strategies for its prevention.
Insights
Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is common in Northern Australia, especially during the wet season. Improved awareness and treatment have reduced mortality, but further research is needed for better prevention and management.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Burkholderia pseudomallei is endemic in Northern Australia, with melioidosis cases peaking during the wet season.
- Risk factors include diabetes, hazardous alcohol use, and chronic kidney disease.
- Pneumonia is the most common presentation, often with bacteremia, but other organs can be affected.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of melioidosis in Northern Australia.
- To highlight factors contributing to improved patient outcomes.
- To identify areas for future research to enhance prevention and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Burkholderia pseudomallei and melioidosis.
- Analysis of clinical data and case fatality rates over the past 20 years.
- Identification of trends in disease presentation and risk factors.
Main Results:
- Melioidosis commonly presents as pneumonia and frequently involves bacteremia.
- Central nervous system involvement, though rarer, carries a high mortality rate.
- Increased healthcare provider awareness, timely antibiotic therapy, and intensive care have significantly decreased the case fatality rate.
Conclusions:
- Melioidosis remains a significant public health concern in Northern Australia.
- Advances in medical care have improved survival rates.
- Further understanding of pathophysiology, optimal management, and prevention strategies are crucial for continued improvement.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
01:19The Behavioral Perspective on Personality
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
01:14Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
01:23Carl Rogers' Humanistic Perspective on Personality
The organism refers to an individual's inherent blueprint, which Rogers saw as innately positive and directed toward helping others, unlike Freud's view of the id as driven by base impulses. The self is a person's...