Cutaneous Melioidosis

Abstract

Melioidosis is an emerging infection in India. It usually presents as pneumonia. Melioidosis presenting as cutaneous lesions is uncommon. We present a case of cutaneous melioidosis from Southern India. Cutaneous melioidosis can present as an ulcer, pustule or as crusted erythematous lesions. A 22-year-old gentleman known case of diabetes mellitus was admitted in our hospital with an ulcer over the left thigh. Discharge from the ulcer grew Burkholderia pseudomallei. He was successfully treated with ceftazidime. Melioidosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of nodular or ulcerative cutaneous lesion in a diabetic patient.

Keywords

• b. pseudomallei
• diabetes mellitus
• skin ulcer