Eurosurveillance, Volume
9, Issue
12,
01 December 2004
Guidelines
Bichat guidelines for the clinical management of glanders and melioidosis and bioterrorism-related glanders and melioidosis
P Bossi1, A Tegnell2, A Baka3, F van Loock2, J Hendriks2, A Werner2, Heinrich Maidhof2, Georgios Gouvras2
Citation style for this article: Bossi P, Tegnell A, Baka A, van Loock F, Hendriks J, Werner A, Maidhof H, Gouvras G. Bichat guidelines for the clinical management of glanders and melioidosis and bioterrorism-related glanders and melioidosis. Euro Surveill. 2004;9(12):pii=507. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=507
Date of submission:
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Philippe Bossi*, Anders Tegnell, Agoritsa Baka, Frank Van Loock, Jan
Hendriks, Albrecht Werner, Heinrich Maidhof, Georgios Gouvras
Task Force on Biological and Chemical Agent Threats, Public Health Directorate,
European Commission, Luxembourg
*Corresponding author: P. Bossi, Pitié-Salpêtrière
Hospital, Paris, France, email: philippe.bossi@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
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Glanders and melioidosis are two infectious
diseases that are caused by Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia
pseudomallei respectively. Infection may be acquired through direct
skin contact with contaminated soil or water. Ingestion of such contaminated
water or dust is another way of contamination. Glanders and melioidosis
have both been studied for weaponisation in several countries in the
past. They produce similar clinical syndromes. The symptoms depend upon
the route of infection but one form of the disease may progress to another,
or the disease might run a chronic relapsing course. Four clinical forms
are generally described: localised infection, pulmonary infection, septicaemia
and chronic suppurative infections of the skin.
All treatment recommendations should be adapted according to the susceptibility
reports from any isolates obtained. Post-exposure prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
is recommended in case of a biological attack. There is no vaccine available
for humans.
Letter
to Editor
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