Treatment
When a melioidosis infection is diagnosed, the disease can be treated with the use of appropriate medication.
The type of infection and the course of treatment will impact long-term outcome. Treatment generally starts with intravenous (within a vein) antimicrobial therapy for 10-14 days, followed by 3-6 months of oral antimicrobial therapy.
Antimicrobial agents that have been effective against melioidosis include:
Intravenous therapy consists of:
- Ceftazidime administered every 6-8 hours
OR - Meropenem administered every 8 hours
Oral antimicrobial therapy consists of:
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole taken every 12 hours
OR - Doxycycline taken every 12 hours
Patients with penicillin allergies should notify their doctor, who can prescribe an alternative treatment course.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
