TeachableMedicalNews article 02272022
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- microbiology – Burkholderia bacteria
- microbiology – bacterial movement by flagella
- cellular basis of life chapter – lysosomes can digest invaders, or self-digest a cell during autophagy cell death
- tissue chapter – cells of epithelial tissue line the lumen of respiratory and digestive systems
- immune system chapter – neutrophils and other white blood cells phagocytose invaders
- blood vessel chapter – septic shock suppresses blood pressure by causing vasodilation
The news item: Recently the following news report appeared online:
Mysterious fatal infections tied to room spray sold at Walmart
Federal authorities warned Friday that a rare bacterial infection that killed two people has been tied to an aromatherapy spray sold at Walmart. A total of four people in four states were infected earlier this year by the rare tropical disease called melioidosis.
The article stated that four victims of melioidosis were identified in the US, that the disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium, that the bacterium lives in soils in Southeast Asia, and that the pathogens were traced to aroma therapy spray bottles.
So, Why Do I Care?? Infectious pathogens are found in many locations, and they can cause deadly diseases. In addition to the well-know viruses and bacteria, there are exotic pathogens that cause rare, but just as deadly infections. Therefore, it is important to understand how those exotic pathogens act. Melioidosis has a 50% death rate, and even after antibiotic treatment the death rate remains 10%.
Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about how this bacterium infects our body. The bacteria enter the body through inhaling or ingesting contaminated water. The bacterium then moves into the epithelial cells that line the lumen of the lower respiratory or the epithelial cells that line the lumen of digestive