Melioidosis in Sri Lanka: an emerging infection

Melioidosis, a pyogenic infection that presents acutely or as a chronic infection, is caused by the soil-associated bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Infection is acquired by inoculation or inhalation and is more common in patients with underlying chronic disease. It is endemic in the tropical belt. Although Sri Lanka is not considered as a country where melioidosis is endemic, an increasing number of cases have been reported recently. Definitive diagnosis requires the isolation of B. pseudomallei in culture from clinical specimens. However, the laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis in Sri Lanka and other under-resourced countries is limited by a lack of familiarity with the bacterium and a lack of facilities to accurately confirm the identity of the isolate. It is highly likely that melioidosis is under-diagnosed in this country. There is a need to increase awareness of this infection among clinicians and clinical microbiologists and improve laboratory facilities for the selective isolation and accurate identification of B.pseudomallei. In addition, studies are needed to determine the epidemiology of melioidosis in Sri Lanka.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v2i1.3801Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol.2(1) 2012: 2-8