Melioid meningitis: First reported case of Burkholderia pseudomallei meningitis In Colombia

Abstract

Human melioidosis is a serious infectious disease commonly known by being endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia. It is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei a non-spore forming gram negative bacillus. Here we present the case of a 66-year-old woman with a history of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma that presented to the ER with 3 days of fever and altered mental status. Isolation from CSF culture was obtained confirming Burkholderia pseudomallei. Despite adequate antimicrobial treatment the patient continued to deteriorate and finally died 15 days after admission. To our knowledge there is only one additional reported case of Burkholderia pseudomallei meningitis in South America and the first one to be reported in Colombia.

Keywords

• Melioidosis
• Burkholderia pseudomallei
• Meningitis
• Bacterial
• Fatal Outcome