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Abstract
Role of Antimicrobial Agents in Treatment of Melioidosis: Analysis of Cases Series
from Other Countries.
Aswapokee N.*
*Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 1986; 3: 123-126.
Treatment of melioidosis with antimicrobial agents resulted in unsatisfactory outCQme
especially in septicemia form. Despite appropriate regimens, the fatality rate in such manifestation
is still as high as 80 per cent. From English literatures during 1947 to 1986,41 articles were re
viewed. One hundred and fifty-three patients were reported with adequate data involving demo
graphic, clinical information and outcome of treatment. Almost every case contracted the dis·
ease in Southeast Asian countries and Australia. The age ranged from 1 day to 79 years old.
There were 37 septicemic and 116 nonsepticemic melioidosis. In septicemic form, those who re
ceived appropriate and combined treatment had 83 per cent fatality rate, wilDe in localized form
this rate was only 2.5 per cent. Those who received appropriate but single therapy had higher fata
lity rate. None of the sufferers who received inappropriate or no treatment survived. This
descriptive analysis of the case series shows trend of outcome of both septicemic and nonseptice
mic melioidosis. Exact information is needed and should be accomplished through experimental
study.
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