Burkholderia Pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative rod-shaped soil-dwelling bacterium found in parts of Southeast Asia, Northern Australia, and Africa. It is the causative agent of melioidosis, a serious and potentially fatal infection in humans. B. pseudomallei is an obligate pathogen and can colonize in many organs such as the lungs, liver, and spleen, leading to sepsis, meningitis, and other life-threatening diseases. The bacterium can survive in both moist soil environments and inside of cells. It is resistant to many antibiotics and affects both healthy and immunocompromised people. As B. pseudomallei can be difficult to diagnose and treat, it's important to practice preventive measures and to identify the infection quickly in order to give the best chance for a successful recovery.