摘要：Melioidosis, caused by the Gram negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, is endemic innorthern Australia. Using data collated from centres in Western Australia, the Northern Territoryand Queensland, this report describes the epidemiology of this disease between 1 November,2001 and 31 October, 2002.There were 47 cases seen during this period with an average annualincidence of 5.8 cases per 100,000 population. In Indigenous Australians, an incidence of 25.5cases per 100,000 population was seen. The timing and location of cases was generallycorrelated with rainfall across northern Australia.A case-cluster in a Queensland community wasassociated with post-cyclonic flooding. Risk factors included diabetes, alcohol-related problemsand renal disease. Pneumonia (51%) was the most common clinical diagnosis.The mortality rateattributable to melioidosis was 21 per cent, although a number of other patients died ofunderlying disease. Despite improvements in recognition and treatment, melioidosis is stillassociated with a high morbidity and mortality, particularly in Indigenous Australians
