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Simplified Whole Body Plethysmography to Characterize Lung Function During Respiratory Melioidosis
Published on: February 24, 2023
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Melioidosis Presenting Predominantly as Thoracic Empyema
Ngoc-Huyen Dao-Thi1, Au Nguyen-Tiet2, Lam Nguyen-Ho1,2,3
1University Medical Center HCMC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Journal of Global Infectious Diseases
|August 1, 2022
Summary
Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, can present as thoracic empyema. Two cases show successful antibiotic treatment without drainage, highlighting this rare presentation.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Thoracic empyema is typically caused by bacterial infections, with Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most common pathogen.
- Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is endemic in tropical regions and can manifest with diverse clinical presentations.
- Burkholderia pseudomallei has rarely been implicated as a cause of thoracic empyema in existing literature.
Observation:
- Two male patients, aged 66 and 57, presented with fever and pleuritic chest pain.
- Chest CT scans revealed significant pleural effusion, confirmed as frank pus via thoracentesis.
- Isolation of Burkholderia pseudomallei from pleural pus cultures confirmed melioidosis.
Findings:
- Both patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy tailored to Burkholderia pseudomallei.
- Successful treatment was achieved without the need for chest tube drainage in either case.
- These cases demonstrate that melioidosis can present exclusively as thoracic empyema.
Implications:
- This study expands the known spectrum of melioidosis presentations.
- It underscores the importance of considering melioidosis in the differential diagnosis of thoracic empyema, especially in endemic areas.
- The findings suggest that prompt antibiotic treatment may be sufficient for managing melioidosis-induced empyema, potentially avoiding invasive procedures.
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