Overview

• Ten patients contracted neuromelioidosis after irrigation with reused saline at a Vaniyambadi dental clinic, eight of whom died, yielding an 80% fatality rate.
• The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia study linked the outbreak to bottles of saline opened with unsterile instruments and repeatedly reused during procedures.
• Researchers determined that the bacteria likely spread directly along nerve pathways in the mouth, leading to rapid brainstem infections.
• Following public outcry in May 2023, the clinic was disinfected and closed but scientists later isolated the pathogen from a preserved saline sample.
• State public health authorities confirmed the findings and have implemented rigorous infection prevention and control measures across healthcare facilities.