Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in Melioidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Melioidosis is a severe infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, with high mortality rates, particularly in severe cases complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI). Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the impact of AKI on mortality and other clinical outcomes-including ICU admission and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT)-in patients with melioidosis. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to 16 May 2025. Studies reporting mortality, ICU admission, or RRT use in patients with AKI were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for mortality associated with AKI. Results: Twenty-nine studies (380 patients) were included. AKI occurred in 123 patients (32.4%). The pooled analysis revealed that AKI patients had a significantly higher mortality risk than non-AKI patients (OR = 23.37; 95% CI: 13.97-39.10; p = 0.0082), with no significant heterogeneity (I² = 0%). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this association. ICU admission and RRT data were frequently reported but were not suitable for meta-analysis due to insufficient data. Conclusions: AKI is a serious complication in melioidosis, significantly increasing the risk of mortality. Early recognition and aggressive management of AKI in melioidosis may be critical to improving clinical outcomes.

Keywords: AKI; Burkholderia pseudomallei; acute kidney injury; clinical outcome; melioidosis; mortality.

Figure 1

PRISMA flow diagram.

Figure 2

The forest plot.