Direk LimmathurotsakulVanaporn WuthiekanunGumphol WongsuvanSukanya PangmeePremjit AmornchaiPrapit TeparrakkulNittaya TeerawattanasookNicholas P J DaySharon J. PeacockMahidol UniversitySappasitthiprasong HospitalUniversity of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Cambridge2018-05-032018-05-032011-06-01American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Vol.84, No.6 (2011), 858-861000296372-s2.0-79958740023https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/12042Melioidosis, a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is notoriously difficult to cure despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy and has a mortality rate of up to 40%. We demonstrate that a blood culture positive for B. pseudomallei taken at the end of the first and/or second week after hospitalization for melioidosis is a strong prognostic factor for death (adjusted odds ratio = 4.2, 95% confidence interval = 2.1-8.7, P < 0.001 and adjusted odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-6.0, P = 0.03, respectively). However, repeat cultures of respiratory secretions, urine, throat swabs, or pus/surface swabs provide no prognostic information. This finding highlights the need for follow-up blood cultures in patients with melioidosis. Copyright © 2011 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0618