Bacteraemia in adult patients presenting with malaria in India

Severe falciparum malaria is a major health problem in Odisha, India, contributing to high mortality. Multi organ dysfunction is a predominant manifestation of severe disease in Odisha, unlike in Africa, where cerebral malaria and anaemia are common. There are several studies implicating bacteraemia with severe malaria in African children while there are no reports in adults in India. This study has addressed this issue by enrolling 67 P. falciparum infected adult patients categorized into severe and uncomplicated malaria. Blood culture failed to confirm bacteraemia in any sample with the exception of one case of uncomplicated malaria. Study is inconclusive with regard to use of antibiotics in adult patients.