Melioidosis

Melioidosis affects individuals who are in regular contact with soil and water. It is also causes seasonal infections and is more common during the rainy or monsoon season. The bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, can be inoculated, inhaled, aspirated or ingested. The most common transmission routes being direct innoculation and inhalation. Person to person spread is extremely uncommon. 

Risk factors for melioidosis are diabetes, heavy alcohol intake, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, thalassaemia and cancer. Patients who are on immunosuppressive therapy (including steroid therapy) are also at higher risk of melioidosis. Having said this, it is also important to know that fulminant melioidosis can occasionally occur in healthy individuals.