Quang Nam directs strengthening of diagnosis and treatment of Whitmore disease

Quang Nam Department of Health has just sent a document to medical facilities in the province regarding strengthening the diagnosis and treatment of Whitmore disease.

According to the Quang Nam Department of Health, recently, Tam Tri Quang Nam General Hospital admitted a female patient for emergency treatment. Test results showed that the patient was infected with Burkholederia pseudomallei (the cause of Whitmore's disease). Currently, the patient has died.
To proactively detect early, treat promptly, and minimize the mortality rate due to Withmore's disease, the Quang Nam Department of Health requires medical facilities to increase communication in hospitals so that patients and their families can understand disease prevention measures.
Because the disease has diverse clinical manifestations and is difficult to diagnose, the Department of Health directs medical facilities in the province to organize departmental, interdisciplinary, and inter-hospital consultations when there are suspected cases to promptly diagnose and prescribe appropriate tests.
It is known that on October 11, Tam Tri Quang Nam General Hospital received female patient NTTV (47 years old, residing in Que Phu commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province) admitted to the emergency room with high fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue, ...
After emergency treatment, the patient was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, and was monitored for sepsis. The patient had type 1 diabetes and had been off treatment for about a year; complications of acute respiratory failure and acute hyperglycemia. The patient was assigned paraclinical tests such as tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms, blood cultures, sputum cultures, etc. However, because the hospital could not perform blood and sputum cultures, the samples had to be sent to Phan Chau Trinh University.
At 4:45 p.m. the same day, due to the worsening condition and severe prognosis, the patient was consulted and transferred to Da Nang Hospital for treatment. He later died.
On October 14, Tam Tri Quang Nam General Hospital received the results of blood and sputum cultures from patient V. with the results that the patient was infected with Burkholederia pseudomallei.

Whitmore's disease (also known as Melioidosis) is an infectious disease in humans and animals caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. The disease causes necrosis of many organs, including the skin, and rapidly weakens the immune system. It is transmitted through ulcerated wounds, so it is also known as "flesh-eating" bacteria. With a mortality rate of up to 40 - 60%, Whitmore's disease is included in the list of the most dangerous diseases by the Ministry of Health.

Khanh Chi

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