Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Melioidosis in Vachira Phuket Hospital
Keywords:
Melioidosis, , Burkholderia pseudomallei, , Epidemiology, , Septic shock, , MortalityAbstract
Background: Melioidosis is a contact-transmitted infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Data from the 506 national notifiable disease reporting system indicated that, between 2015 and 2023, Phuket Province reported an average of seven melioidosis cases per year, with a total of three deaths during this period. In 2024, however, 21 cases and four deaths were reported, representing the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the past decade. Nevertheless, these reported figures may underestimate the true burden of disease. To date, no study has described the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of melioidosis patients treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Objectives: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and determine factors associated with clinical outcomes among patients with melioidosis treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients with melioidosis treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024. Secondary data were obtained from the 506 national notifiable disease reporting system, medical records, and laboratory databases. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality.
Results: The number of patients with melioidosis treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital remained relatively stable over time and was associated with rainfall. Most patients were of working age, predominantly engaged in manual labor occupations, and had underlying noncommunicable diseases. Factors associated with mortality included circulatory or lung involvement, low serum bicarbonate levels, and failure to achieve source control. Approximately one-third of the patients developed septic shock and died.
Conclusions: Melioidosis remains a challenging public health problem that requires strengthened preventive measures, integration of diagnostic technologies, and the development of systematic clinical management strategies to reduce the incidence and mortality associated with the disease.
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