Trends in the development of diagnostic methods for detecting Burkholderia pseudomallei (2010-2025): A global and Vietnamese perspective

Objectives: To describe the global and national trends in the development of diagnostic methods for detecting Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) and to analyze the diagnostic performance of these detection methods during the period 2010-2025.

Subjects: Published studies and reports on diagnostic methods for B. pseudomallei conducted worldwide and in Vietnam from 2010 to 2025.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. A total of 34 eligible studies were included. Data was synthesized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets and reference management was conducted with Zotero 7.0.

Results: Between 2010 and 2025, diagnostic approaches for B. pseudomallei were classified into four main categories: Culture-based methods, molecular biology techniques, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and immunological assays. Immunoassays were the most widely applied due to their speed and low cost, though sensitivity and specificity varied. Culture-based methods remained indispensable as the diagnostic gold standard, despite moderate sensitivity and longer turnaround time. Molecular biology techniques, particularly Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) achieved high sensitivity and specificity, capable of detecting B. pseudomallei at very low DNA concentrations. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry demonstrated nearly perfect accuracy in species identification from cultured colonies.

Conclusions: Diagnostic methods for B. pseudomallei have progressively evolved toward more rapid and precise technologies. Immunoassays are appropriate for preliminary screening, while culture remains essential for confirmation. Molecular biology- and MALDI-TOF-based techniques provide high accuracy and reliability, representing the future direction for diagnostic standardization and clinical application.

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