Pitman MC

Luck, Tara

Marshall, Catherine

Anstey, Nicholas

Ward L

Currie, Bart

2015-03-26

International melioidosis treatment guidelines recommend a minimum 10 to 14 days' intravenous antibiotic therapy (intensive phase), followed by 3 to 6 months' oral therapy (eradication phase). This approach is associated with rates of relapse, defined as recurrence following the eradication phase, that can exceed 5%. Rates of recrudescence, defined as recurrence during the eradication phase, have not previously been reported. In response to low eradication phase completion rates in Australia, a local guideline has evolved over the last ten years recommending a longer minimum intensive phase duration for many cases of melioidosis. This retrospective cohort study reviews antibiotic duration for the first episode of care for all patients diagnosed with melioidosis and surviving the intensive phase during a recent three year period in the tropical north of Australia's Northern Territory; we also review adherence to the current local guideline and treatment outcomes. Of 215 first episodes of melioidosis surviving the intensive phase, the median (interquartile range) intensive phase duration was 26 (14-34) days. One hundred and eight (50.2%) patients completed eradication therapy; 58 (27.0%) patients took no eradication therapy. At 28 months' follow-up, one (0.5%) relapse and eleven (5.1%) recrudescences had occurred. On exact logistic regression analysis, the only independent risk factors for recrudescence were self-discharge during the intensive phase (odds ratio 6.2 [95% confidence interval 1.2-30.0]) and septic shock (odds ratio 5.3 [95% confidence interval 1.1-25.7]). Relapsed melioidosis is rare in patients who receive a minimum intensive phase duration specified by our guideline and extended according to clinical progress. Recrudescence rates may improve with reductions in rates of self-discharge. Given the low relapse rate despite a high rate of eradication therapy non-adherence, the duration and necessity of eradication therapy for different patients after guideline-concordant intensive therapy should be evaluated further.

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia..

PLoS Negl Trop Dis . 2015 Mar 26;9(3):e0003586. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003586. eCollection 2015 Mar.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25811783/?otool=iaurydwlib

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5496

Administration, Intravenous

Adult

Aged

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Cohort Studies

Female

Guideline Adherence

Humans

Logistic Models

Male

Melioidosis

Middle Aged

Northern Territory

Recurrence

Retrospective Studies

Time Factors

Treatment Outcome

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

Intravenous therapy duration and outcomes in melioidosis: a new treatment paradigm.

Journal Article

Publication