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Volume 29, Number 11—November 2023
Synopsis

Clinical Manifestations and Genomic Evaluation of Melioidosis Outbreak among Children after Sporting Event, Australia

Simon SmithComments to Author , Tonia Marquardt, Amy V. Jennison, Andrew D’Addona, James Stewart, Trent Yarwood, Jennifer Ho, Enzo Binotto, Julian Harris, Mark Fahmy, Juliet Esmonde, Megan Richardson, Rikki M.A. Graham, Richard Gair, Lawrence Ariotti, Annie Preston-Thomas, Sally Rubenach, Siobhan O’Sullivan, Darren Allen, Thomas Ragh, Sachjuan Grayson, Sophie Manoy, Jeffery M. Warner, Ella M. Meumann, Jennifer M. Robson, and Josh Hanson
Author affiliations: Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia (S. Smith, J. Stewart, T. Yarwood, J. Ho, E. Binotto, J. Harris, M. Fahmy, S. O’Sullivan, T. Ragh, S. Grayson, S. Manoy, J. Hanson); Cairns & Hinterland Health Service, Cairns (T. Marquardt, A. D’Addona, J. Esmonde, M. Richardson, R. Gair, A. Preston-Thomas, S. Rubenach); Forensic and Scientific Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (A.V. Jennison, R.M.A. Graham, L. Ariotti); University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia (T. Yarwood); James Cook University, Cairns (T. Yarwood, J. Ho); Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (D. Allen); James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia (J.M. Warner); Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia (E.M. Meumann, J.M. Robson); Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (E.M. Meumann); University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (J. Hanson)

Main Article

Table 2

Environmental sample selections and sampling methods in an investigation of melioidosis among children after sporting event, Australia

Sample site Rationale for site selection Sampling method No. samples
Mud pit
 Epidemiologic review suggested the mud pit used during the event was the most plausible source of infection
 Soil samples were collected at a minimum of 2.5 m apart and in a grid format
 8
Because this was the likely point of acquisition, the greatest number of samples were taken here
 Two additional samples taken in the center of the mud pit
Earth works
 Determine whether earth works brought into the site introduced B. pseudomallei
 Area was condensed rock and soil, which was a barrier to reaching 30 cm depth. Soil was also well drained
 1
Identify whether runoff from this site affected other parts of the school, sports field, or mud pit area
 Sample was collected at a random spot in the earth works area due to limited laboratory capacity
Identify whether this area had similar contamination as other areas
Drainage area adjacent to earth works
 Identify whether runoff or sediment from earthworks or school grounds contained B. pseudomallei
 Samples were collected at random spots in sample area due to limited laboratory capacity
 3
Determine if the stormwater diversion drains were introducing B. pseudomallei to the school site
 Sample location was identified because areas where runoff and sediment from the earthworks site and school might collect and settle
Side sports field stormwater run off
 Area appeared to hold water runoff from earthworks site and sports field
 Samples were collected at random spots in sample area due to limited testing ability
 2
Detection of B. pseudomallei might have supported theory that B. pseudomallei was introduced to the school site through earthworks
 Sample location was identified as an area where water runoff from earthworks site and sports field collected and pooled
Wallaby scat
 Evidence that wallabies can carry B. pseudomallei that might have been spread across the site through their feces (17)
 Surface sampling of wallaby feces in areas witnessed to have a high population of wallabies grazing during sampling visit
 2
Scat collected from multiple droppings to meet the 100 g sample requirement
Scat collected from ground
Bore water pump Evidence that bore water has been found to contain B. pseudomallei (19)
 Two water samples taken, a first flush sample and then a sample after the bore had run for a 2-min period.
 2
Samples required a minimum of 1 L collected into sterile containers

Main Article

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Page created: September 14, 2023
Page updated: October 23, 2023
Page reviewed: October 23, 2023
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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