Melioidosis. The human infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei

The human infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water, may lead to a potentially life-threatening disease: melioidosis. The course of the disease essentially depends on the subspecies, the transmission route, individual immunity and the amount of pathogen. Melioidosis is of major public health importance in endemic areas, particularly in Vietnam and northern Australia. However, due to international tourism and world trade the pathogen has now been spread almost worldwide. There are various aspects of major occupational importance, particularly for community facilities (e. g. kindergarten, school) and communal catering (e. g. restaurants, catering industry). This article gives a brief review of the current state of knowledge about the epidemiology, pathology, diagnostics, treatment and prevention, with a particular focus on occupational aspects.