Melioidosis presenting with multiple liver abscesses

Abstract

A 48-year-old male patient presented with a history of fever, abdominal pain and cough for the preceding 14 days. Abdominal examination revealed tenderness in the right hypochondrium. Radiological features were suggestive of multiple liver abscesses. Ultrasonography-guided percutaneous catheter insertion into the largest measuring abscess was done. Pus culture grew Burkholderia pseudomallei spp. The patient was started on intravenous meropenem initially which was changed to IV cefoperazone-sulbactam as per the sensitivity pattern. The patient died on the 16th day of admission due to refractory septic shock. The present case highlights the fact that melioidosis is emerging as an important cause and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with multiple liver abscesses and systemic sepsis.

Keywords

• burkholderia pseudomallei
• melioidosis
• multiple liver abscesses