Journey to Thailand August 2009

Question

Dear expert team,
I am 23 years old and have a attenuated form of CF (lung function normal, never Pseudomonas, no resp. hardly any accumulation of mucus in the lung, do not need daily inhalation, I am doing extreme sports and have actually no restriction).
And now I want to fly to Thailand in 2 weeks, for spending 4 weeks of holidays there.
I have now heard about the germ "Pseudomallei" and I ask myself now, if I run a great risk when visiting this country!
I do not plan to go into the deep rainforest or to visit any rice fields either, but stay at the sea shore.
Yours sincerely,

Answer

Hello,
your question is definitely eligible!
In Thailand and in some other regions of southeast asia as well as in nothern Australia the germ Burkholderia pseudomallei can be found in the water and earth. This germ can cause the illness "Melioidosis". Hereby it has often to do with an acute pneumonia with a severe course and a sepsis. The course of the illness can also be chronical and can also cause purulent infections such as skin infections and organ infections. There are in the meantime also some described infections in CF patients. In some of these patients the germ caused a deterioration of their illness, which could be treated by antibiotics. The germ could be detected in some patients over an extended period of time.
At the sea shore the risk is for sure not as high as on the rice fields. A general risk of acquiring this germ can not be excluded for sure. It is important, that when coming back, one tells the laboratory which performs the diagnostics, that the holiday was in a region in which the germ can be found, in order the laboratory has the chance of detecting the germ. Unfortunately the diagnosis is not very easy. A correct diagnosis is mandatory for a possible necessary antibiotic therapy.
I hope that I have given you not too much worries on your way and wish you an relaxing holiday and a healthy coming back.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Kahl

06.08.2009