Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025
Dispatch
Related Melioidosis Cases with Unknown Exposure Source, Georgia, USA, 1983–2024
Skyler Brennan1, Julie M. Thompson1
, Christopher A. Gulvik, Taylor K. Paisie, Mindy Glass Elrod, Jay E. Gee, Caroline A. Schrodt, Katherine M. DeBord, Brian T. Richardson, Cherie Drenzek, William A. Bower, Alex R. Hoffmaster, Zachary P. Weiner, Caitlin M. Cossaboom, and Julie Gabel
, Christopher A. Gulvik, Taylor K. Paisie, Mindy Glass Elrod, Jay E. Gee, Caroline A. Schrodt, Katherine M. DeBord, Brian T. Richardson, Cherie Drenzek, William A. Bower, Alex R. Hoffmaster, Zachary P. Weiner, Caitlin M. Cossaboom, and Julie Gabel
Table
Characteristics, clinical findings, and timeline of events among 4 patients with related melioidosis infections, Georgia, USA, 1983–2024*
| Characteristics | Patient 1 | Patient 2 | Patient 3 | Patient 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preceding weather event (strength†) | Hurricane Helene (Category 4) | Hurricane Hugo (Category 4) | None | |
| Weather event date | 2024 Sep 26 | 2024 Sep 26 | 1989 Sep 22 | None |
| Symptom onset date(s) | 2024 Sep 28 | 2024 Sep 29 | 1989 Oct 5 | Unknown |
| Hospitalization admission date |
2024 Oct 2 |
2024 Oct 1 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| Laboratory findings at admission (reference range) | ||||
| Leukocyte count (4–11 × 109 cells/L) | 14.98 | 5.92 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Neutrophils (39.4%–72.5%) | 77.8% | 82.5% | Unknown | Unknown |
| Platelet count (140–400 × 109/L) | 162 | 73 | Unknown | Unknown |
| AST (15–37 U/L) | 37 | 193 | Unknown | Unknown |
| ALT (16–61 U/L) |
76 |
79 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| Imaging findings at admission |
Chest radiograph: unremarkable; persistent nodule/density in left mid-lung zone. CT abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast: unremarkable |
Chest radiograph: pneumonia with nodule in left lung, suspected bronchogenic neoplasm. CT abdomen and pelvis without contrast: unremarkable |
Unknown |
Unknown |
| Comorbidities | None identified | None identified | Diabetes | None identified |
| Outcome | Discharged | Discharged | Died | Died |
| Discharge or death date | 2024 Oct 16 | 2024 Oct 20 | 1989 Oct | 1983 Oct |
| Hospital readmission date |
None |
2024 Nov 9 |
None |
None |
| Laboratory findings at readmission (reference range) | ||||
| Leukocyte count (4–11 × 109 cells/L) | NA | 12.5 | NA | NA |
| AST (15–37 U/L) | NA | 705 | NA | NA |
| ALT (16–61 U/L) |
NA |
500 |
NA |
NA |
| Imaging findings at readmission |
NA |
Chest radiograph: negative for consolidation. CT abdomen and pelvis without contrast: enlarged, edematous prostate, consistent with prostatitis |
NA |
NA |
| Readmission outcome | NA | Discharged | NA | NA |
| Readmission discharge or death date | NA | 2024 Nov 15 | NA | NA |
| International travel history (year) | NA | Bahamas (2022) | Unknown | South Korea (1950s), Vietnam (1960s) |
| United States military service history | NA | None | World War II | World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War |
*ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transferase; CT, computed tomography; IV, intravenous; NA, not applicable. †Hurricane category according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (10).
1These first authors contributed equally to this article.
Page created: July 17, 2025
Page updated: August 26, 2025
Page reviewed: August 26, 2025
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