Journal article

The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study: a 30-year prospective, observational investigation

BJ Currie, M Mayo, LM Ward, M Kaestli, EM Meumann, JR Webb, C Woerle, RW Baird, RN Price, CS Marshall, AP Ralph, E Spencer, J Davies, SE Huffam, S Janson, S Lynar, P Markey, VL Krause, NM Anstey

Lancet Infectious Diseases | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2021

Abstract

Background: The global distribution of melioidosis is under considerable scrutiny, with both unmasking of endemic disease in African and Pacific nations and evidence of more recent dispersal in the Americas. Because of the high incidence of disease in tropical northern Australia, The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study commenced in October, 1989. We present epidemiology, clinical features, outcomes, and bacterial genomics from this 30-year study, highlighting changes in the past decade. Methods: The present study was a prospective analysis of epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data for all culture-confirmed melioidosis cases from the tropical Northern Territory of Australia from Oct ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Menzies School of Health Research


Funding Acknowledgements

We thank the numerous medical, nursing, laboratory, and public health colleagues at Royal Darwin Hospital, the Northern Territory Department of Health, and Menzies School of Health Research, who over the 30 years of the study have assisted with patient diagnosis and treatment, data collection, and B pseudomallei identification and genotyping. We are grateful to Erin Price and Derek Sarovich (University of the Sunshine Coast), who established and led the Menzies B pseudomallei genomics programme for 7 years. We also thank Vanessa Rigas and Glenda Harrington who continue to curate the Menzies B pseudomallei collection. Population estimates were kindly provided by Steve Guthridge. Continuing inspiration is provided by many colleagues from around the world who share their experiences through the International Melioidosis Network. The research was funded under the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council grant numbers 1046812, 1098337, 1142011, 1135820, and 1131932 (The HOT NORTH initiative).