Pleuropulmonary melioidosis with osteomyelitis rib

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Melioidosis is a serious infectious disease with potential multiorgan involvement.
• Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis.
• Few cases of melioidosis have been documented in South India, making it an area of interest for epidemiological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of pleuropulmonary melioidosis.
• To highlight the co-occurrence of rib osteomyelitis in a melioidosis patient.
• To contribute to the limited data on melioidosis in South India.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a patient diagnosed with pleuropulmonary melioidosis.
• Diagnostic procedures included clinical evaluation, microbiological investigations, and imaging studies.
• Treatment and management strategies were documented.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with symptoms consistent with pleuropulmonary infection.
• Diagnosis confirmed melioidosis involving the lungs and pleura.
• Associated finding of rib osteomyelitis was identified.

Conclusions:

• Pleuropulmonary melioidosis can occur with bone involvement, such as rib osteomyelitis.
• This case underscores the importance of considering melioidosis in the differential diagnosis of respiratory infections in endemic or potentially endemic regions.
• Further surveillance and reporting are needed to understand the true prevalence of melioidosis in South India.