Case report: Fatal co-infection-melioidosis and leptospirosis

• Main Authors: How, Soon Hin, Ramalingam, Rajalingam, Kuan, Yeh Chunn, Ahmad, Norazah, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Mohamed, Mohd Sapian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2012
• Subjects: RC Internal medicine
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/28864/1/AJTMH_October_2012_737.full.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/28864/; http://www.ajtmh.org/content/87/4/737.abstract
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Co-infection of melioidosis and leptospirosis is uncommon. We report here four such cases, confirmed by blood culture for melioidosis and blood polymerase-chain reaction for leptospirosis, which occurred among rescuers involved in a search and rescue operation for a young man who was suspected to have drowned in Lubuk Yu, a recreational forest in Pahang, Malaysia. Despite treatment, three of the patients died from the co-infection.