Related Experiment Videos

A rare cause of septic arthritis: melioidosis

Aruna Sanjeewa Caldera1, Thirunavukarasu Kumanan, Enoka Corea

  • 1Jaffna Teaching Hospital, 7/111 Temple Lane, Temple Road, Maharagama, Colombo 10280, Sri Lanka. arunacarl@yahoo.com.

Tropical Doctor
|September 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Melioidosis, a severe bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, requires high clinical suspicion due to its varied symptoms. This case highlights its diagnosis in a farmer with pneumonia and septic arthritis.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Melioidosis is a serious infection with high mortality rates.
  • Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a soil-dwelling bacterium.
  • Diagnosis can be challenging due to non-specific clinical presentations.

Observation:

  • A 50-year-old male farmer with diabetes and chronic alcoholism presented with pneumonia.
  • The patient subsequently developed septic arthritis.
  • These symptoms prompted further investigation into infectious etiologies.

Findings:

  • The patient was ultimately diagnosed with melioidosis.
  • This underscores the importance of considering melioidosis in endemic areas, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Co-infection or sequential presentation of pneumonia and septic arthritis can occur in melioidosis.

Implications:

  • Early and accurate diagnosis of melioidosis is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
  • Healthcare providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for melioidosis in patients with compatible risk factors and symptoms.
  • This case emphasizes the diverse clinical manifestations of melioidosis, necessitating a broad differential diagnosis.
Keywords:
Bacterial infectiondisease

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes01:30

Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes

Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...