Pulmonary melioidosis complicating foreign body aspiration in a young adult

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Melioidosis is caused by the environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.
• Risk factors include diabetes, occupational exposure, renal disease, and thalassemia.
• Pulmonary melioidosis is a serious infection, often presenting with pneumonia-like symptoms.

Observation:

• A 30-year-old male carpenter with a history of foreign body aspiration presented with persistent cough and fever.
• Chest X-ray revealed consolidation, cavitation, and a foreign body in the left lower lobe bronchus.
• Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed Burkholderia pseudomallei infection.

Findings:

• This case represents a rare instance of melioidosis associated with foreign body aspiration.
• The patient, a smoker, was otherwise considered immunocompetent.
• B. pseudomallei was successfully cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage samples.

Implications:

• Pulmonary melioidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of secondary infections following foreign body inhalation.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, even in immunocompetent individuals.
• This case expands the known clinical presentations of melioidosis.