title: Emergence of Melioidosis in Indonesia.
abstract: Melioidosis is known to be highly endemic in parts of southeast Asia and northern Australia; however, cases are rarely reported in Indonesia. Here we report three cases of melioidosis in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia occurring between 2013 and 2014. Two patients died and the other was lost to follow-up. Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from all three cases were identified by the VITEK2 Compact installed in the hospital in 2012. None of the three patients reported received antimicrobials recommended for melioidosis because of the delayed recognition of the organism. We reviewed the literature and found only seven reports of melioidosis in Indonesia. Five were reported before 1960. We suggest that melioidosis is endemic throughout Indonesia but currently under-recognized. Training on how to identify B. pseudomallei accurately and safely in all available microbiological facilities should be provided, and consideration should be given to making melioidosis a notifiable disease in Indonesia.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tauran
authors.forename: Nurhayana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sennang
authors.forename: Benny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rusli
authors.forename: W Joost
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wiersinga
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dance
authors.forename: Mansyur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: Direk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Limmathurotsakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged