Objective    To study the early diagnostic indices of melioidosis by analyzing 49 cases.     Methods    Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the clinical data of 49 cases of melioidosis and 98 cases of bacterial pneumonia who were admitted in our hospital and Peoples’ Hospital of Hainan Province from December 1996 to December 2007. Their social characteristic

background diseases

clinical manifestations

laboratory findings

radiologic examination and complications were studied.     Results    Background disease (such as diabetes)

hepatosplenomegaly

septic shock

sepsis et al were the main causes of melioidosis.     Conclusion    Chills

fever

hepatosplenomegaly

diabetes mellitus

septic shock and sepsis are all factors that should be considered with melioidosis.