TY - JOUR
T1 - Melioidosis in Thailand
T2 - Present and Future
AU - Hinjoy, Soawapak
AU - Hantrakun, Viriya
AU - Kongyu, Somkid
AU - Kaewrakmuk, Jedsada
AU - Wangrangsimakul, Tri
AU - Jitsuronk, Siroj
AU - Saengchun, Weerawut
AU - Bhengsri, Saithip
AU - Akarachotpong, Thantapat
AU - Thamthitiwat, Somsak
AU - Sangwichian, Ornuma
AU - Anunnatsiri, Siriluck
AU - Sermswan, Rasana W.
AU - Lertmemongkolchai, Ganjana
AU - Sitthidet Tharinjaroen, Chayada
AU - Preechasuth, Kanya
AU - Udpaun, Ratchadaporn
AU - Chuensombut, Poomin
AU - Waranyasirikul, Nisarat
AU - Anudit, Chanihcha
AU - Narenpitak, Surapong
AU - Jutrakul, Yaowaruk
AU - Teparrukkul, Prapit
AU - Teerawattanasook, Nittaya
AU - Thanvisej, Kittisak
AU - Suphan, Alisa
AU - Sukbut, Punchawee
AU - Ploddi, Kritchavat
AU - Sirichotirat, Poolsri
AU - Chiewchanyon, Bongkoch
AU - Rukseree, Kamolchanok
AU - Hongsuwan, Maliwan
AU - Wongsuwan, Gumphol
AU - Sunthornsut, Pornpan
AU - Wuthiekanun, Vanaporn
AU - Sachaphimukh, Sandy
AU - Wannapinij, Prapass
AU - Chierakul, Wirongrong
AU - Chewapreecha, Claire
AU - Thaipadungpanit, Janjira
AU - Chantratita, Narisara
AU - Korbsrisate, Sunee
AU - Taunyok, Apichai
AU - Dunachie, Susanna
AU - Palittapongarnpim, Prasit
AU - Sirisinha, Stitaya
AU - Kitphati, Rungrueng
AU - Iamsirithaworn, Sopon
AU - Chaowagul, Wipada
AU - Chetchotisak, Ploenchan
AU - Whistler, Toni
AU - Wongratanacheewin, Surasakdi
AU - Limmathurotsakul, Direk
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - A recent modelling study estimated that there are 2800 deaths due to melioidosis in Thailand yearly. The Thailand Melioidosis Network (formed in 2012) has been working closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to investigate and reduce the burden of this disease. Based on updated data, the incidence of melioidosis is still high in Northeast Thailand. More than 2000 culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis are diagnosed in general hospitals with microbiology laboratories in this region each year. The mortality rate is around 35%. Melioidosis is endemic throughout Thailand, but it is still not uncommon that microbiological facilities misidentify Burkholderia pseudomallei as a contaminant or another organism. Disease awareness is low, and people in rural areas neither wear boots nor boil water before drinking to protect themselves from acquiring B. pseudomallei. Previously, about 10 melioidosis deaths were formally reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (Report 506) each year, thus limiting priority setting by the MoPH. In 2015, the formally reported number of melioidosis deaths rose to 112, solely because Sunpasithiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani province, reported its own data (n = 107). Melioidosis is truly an important cause of death in Thailand, and currently reported cases (Report 506) and cases diagnosed at research centers reflect the tip of the iceberg. Laboratory training and communication between clinicians and laboratory personnel are required to improve diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis countrywide. Implementation of rapid diagnostic tests, such as a lateral flow antigen detection assay, with high accuracy even in melioidosis-endemic countries such as Thailand, is critically needed. Reporting of all culture-confirmed melioidosis cases from every hospital with a microbiology laboratory, together with final outcome data, is mandated under the Communicable Diseases Act B.E.2558. By enforcing this legislation, the MoPH could raise the priority of this disease, and should consider implementing a campaign to raise awareness and melioidosis prevention countrywide.
AB - A recent modelling study estimated that there are 2800 deaths due to melioidosis in Thailand yearly. The Thailand Melioidosis Network (formed in 2012) has been working closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to investigate and reduce the burden of this disease. Based on updated data, the incidence of melioidosis is still high in Northeast Thailand. More than 2000 culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis are diagnosed in general hospitals with microbiology laboratories in this region each year. The mortality rate is around 35%. Melioidosis is endemic throughout Thailand, but it is still not uncommon that microbiological facilities misidentify Burkholderia pseudomallei as a contaminant or another organism. Disease awareness is low, and people in rural areas neither wear boots nor boil water before drinking to protect themselves from acquiring B. pseudomallei. Previously, about 10 melioidosis deaths were formally reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (Report 506) each year, thus limiting priority setting by the MoPH. In 2015, the formally reported number of melioidosis deaths rose to 112, solely because Sunpasithiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani province, reported its own data (n = 107). Melioidosis is truly an important cause of death in Thailand, and currently reported cases (Report 506) and cases diagnosed at research centers reflect the tip of the iceberg. Laboratory training and communication between clinicians and laboratory personnel are required to improve diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis countrywide. Implementation of rapid diagnostic tests, such as a lateral flow antigen detection assay, with high accuracy even in melioidosis-endemic countries such as Thailand, is critically needed. Reporting of all culture-confirmed melioidosis cases from every hospital with a microbiology laboratory, together with final outcome data, is mandated under the Communicable Diseases Act B.E.2558. By enforcing this legislation, the MoPH could raise the priority of this disease, and should consider implementing a campaign to raise awareness and melioidosis prevention countrywide.
KW - Awareness
KW - Burkholderia pseudomallei
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Melioidosis
KW - Mortality
KW - Prevention
KW - Surveillance
KW - Thailand
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063254593&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/tropicalmed3020038
DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed3020038
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85063254593
SN - 2414-6366
VL - 3
JO - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
JF - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
IS - 2
M1 - 38
ER -