Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2024)

Melioidosis in Patients with COVID-19 Exposed to Contaminated Tap Water, Thailand, 2021

  • Panupong Tantirat,
  • Yotsathon Chantarawichian,
  • Pantila Taweewigyakarn,
  • Somkid Kripattanapong,
  • Charuttaporn Jitpeera,
  • Pawinee Doungngern,
  • Chadaporn Phiancharoen,
  • Ratanaporn Tangwangvivat,
  • Soawapak Hinjoy,
  • Anupong Sujariyakul,
  • Premjit Amornchai,
  • Gumphol Wongsuvan,
  • Viriya Hantakun,
  • Vanaporn Wuthiekanun,
  • Janjira Thaipadungpanit,
  • Nicholas R. Thomson,
  • David A.B. Dance,
  • Claire Chewapreecha,
  • Elizabeth M. Batty,
  • Direk Limmathurotsakul

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3004.231476
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 4
pp. 791 – 794

Abstract

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In September 2021, a total of 25 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 developed acute melioidosis after (median 7 days) admission to a COVID-19 field hospital in Thailand. Eight nonpotable tap water samples and 6 soil samples were culture-positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei. Genomic analysis suggested contaminated tap water as the likely cause of illness.

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