Bilateral Pneumothorax-rare Manifestation of Melioidosis

Abstract

Melioidosis is caused by gram negative bacilli called Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is an infectious threat to southeast Asian population. It predominantly affects the diabetic people who have got exposure to the contaminated soil. As it affects multiple organs, it mimics other disease like-tuberculosis. Here we report an unusual pulmonary manifestation of Burkholderia infection in a diabetic patient. A 46-year-old male presented with neck swelling and bilateral pulmonary nodules with pneumothorax. His blood culture and pus culture from neck swelling confirmed Burkholderia pseudomallei. He was managed with bilateral intercostal drainage, sensitive antibiotics and showed improvement. Melioidosis causing bilateral pneumothorax with nodules and its complete recovery was not reported earlier.

Keywords

• intercostal drainage
• pulmonary manifestation
• pulmonary nodule