Prevalence and Mortality Outcomes of Melioidosis in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Protocol and Registration
2.2. Eligibility Criteria
2.3. Information Sources and Search Strategy
2.4. Study Selection
2.5. Data Extraction
2.6. Quality Assessment
2.7. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Included Studies
3.2. Study Characteristics
3.3. Study Quality
3.4. Mortality Outcomes
3.5. Subgroup Analyses
3.6. Sensitivity Analyses
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
aOR | Adjusted odd ratio |
CI | Confidence interval |
CT | Computed Tomography |
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Author (Year) [Ref.] | Country | Design | Population | Thalassemia Case | Thalassemia Type | Outcome Measure | Mortality of the Thalassemia Case | Mortality of the Control Case | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chong (2010) [15] | Brunei Darussalam | Retrospective case series | 4 pancreatic melioidosis cases with CT scan | 2 of 4 | Post-splenectomy thalassemia | Pancreatic involvement, abscess resolution, mortality | 1/2 (50%) with pancreatic melioidosis | 0/2 (0%) | First report of pancreatic melioidosis; all abscesses resolved without drainage |
Churuangsuk (2016) [16] | Thailand (South) | Retrospective 10-year hospital-based study | 134 melioidosis patients | 7 of 134 | Not specified | Mortality, organ involvement | 0/7 (0%) | 12/127 (9.5%) | Thalassemia not associated with increased mortality |
Fong (2015) [17] | Malaysia (Sabah) | Retrospective observational study | 27 (Children < 15 years with culture-confirmed melioidosis) | 11 of 27 | β-thalassemia major | Incidence, bacteremia, organ dysfunction, mortality | 4/11 (36.4%) | 12/16 (75%) | Iron chelation reduced incidence; 59% overall mortality; high CNS involvement |
Hantrakun (2019) [12] | Thailand (Nationwide) | Retrospective database study | 7126 culture-confirmed melioidosis cases | 151 of 7126 | Not specified (ICD-10 code D56.0–D56.4, D56.8–D56.9) | 30-day mortality | 20/151 (13.2%) | 2805/7126 (39.4%) | Thalassemia associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90, p = 0.02) |
Pagnarith (2010) [18] | Cambodia | Retrospective case series | 39 children with melioidosis | 1 (with renal disease) of 39 | Not specified | Mortality, clinical features | 1/1 (100%) | 7/38 (18.4%) | First pediatric report; 21% overall mortality |
Shaw (2019) [19] | India (Southwest) | Retrospective molecular-epidemiology study | 199 culture-confirmed melioidosis cases (Age 47.7 ± 15.4 years, range 7–86 years) | 1 of 199 | Not specified | Virulence genes, mortality | 0/1 (0%) | 51/198 (25.8%) | Thalassemia not associated with mortality |
Study (Year) | [Ref.] | Selection (Max 4) | Comparability (Max 2) | Outcome (Max 3) | Total Score | Quality Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chong (2010) | [15] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | Low |
Churuangsuk (2016) | [16] | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | Moderate |
Fong (2015) | [17] | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | Moderate |
Hantrakun (2019) | [12] | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 | High |
Pagnarith (2010) | [18] | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Low |
Shaw (2019) | [19] | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Low |
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Thanasai, J.; Singha, K.; Phongphithakchai, A.; Chatatikun, M.; Laklaeng, S.-n.; Tangpong, J.; Wongyikul, P.; Phinyo, P.; Khemla, S.; Chittamma, A.; et al. Prevalence and Mortality Outcomes of Melioidosis in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Med. Sci. 2025, 13, 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13040216
Thanasai J, Singha K, Phongphithakchai A, Chatatikun M, Laklaeng S-n, Tangpong J, Wongyikul P, Phinyo P, Khemla S, Chittamma A, et al. Prevalence and Mortality Outcomes of Melioidosis in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medical Sciences. 2025; 13(4):216. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13040216
Chicago/Turabian StyleThanasai, Jongkonnee, Kritsada Singha, Atthaphong Phongphithakchai, Moragot Chatatikun, Sa-ngob Laklaeng, Jitabanjong Tangpong, Pakpoom Wongyikul, Phichayut Phinyo, Supphachoke Khemla, Anchalee Chittamma, and et al. 2025. "Prevalence and Mortality Outcomes of Melioidosis in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" Medical Sciences 13, no. 4: 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13040216
APA StyleThanasai, J., Singha, K., Phongphithakchai, A., Chatatikun, M., Laklaeng, S.-n., Tangpong, J., Wongyikul, P., Phinyo, P., Khemla, S., Chittamma, A., & Klangbud, W. K. (2025). Prevalence and Mortality Outcomes of Melioidosis in Thalassemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medical Sciences, 13(4), 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13040216