Journal of travel medicine
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Multicenter Study
Clinical evaluation of BioFire® multiplex-PCR panel for acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses in travellers: a prospective multicenter study.
Identifying the causes of Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness (AUFI) is key to improve the management of returning travellers with fever. We evaluated a BioFire®FilmArray® prototype panel of multiplex nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) targeting different relevant pathogens in travellers returning with fever. ⋯ The prototype panel allowed rapid and reliable diagnosis for malaria, dengue and chikungunya. Further improvements are needed to improve its sensitivity for Zika and important travel-related bacterial infections.
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Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, may be considered a neglected tropical disease that remains underdiagnosed in many geographical areas. Travellers can act as the sentinels of disease activity, and data from imported cases may help complete the global map of melioidosis. ⋯ As post-pandemic travel soars, health professionals should be aware of the possibility of imported melioidosis with its diverse presentations. Currently, no licensed vaccine is available, so prevention in travellers should focus on protective measures (avoiding contact with soil/stagnant water in endemic areas). Biological samples from suspected cases require processing in biosafety level 3 facilities.
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International travellers may seek care abroad to address health problems that arise during their trip or plan healthcare outside their country of residence as medical tourists. ⋯ International travellers encounter health problems during travel that often could be prevented by pre-travel consultation. Travellers obtaining planned healthcare abroad can experience negative health consequences associated with treatments abroad, for which pre-travel consultations could provide advice and potentially help to prevent complications.