Septic melioidosis after a visit to Southeast Asia

A case is reported of a fifty-seven year old man with fever, who was admitted to hospital after a recent visit to Southeast Asia. Among the clinical findings prostatitis and broncho-pneumonia were noted. Within twenty-four hours irreversible fulminant sepsis developed although he was treated with cefotaxime, tobramycin and erythromycin. Post mortem Pseudomonas pseudomallei was cultured from blood and aspirate collected by bronchoscopy. It is important to consider melioidosis as a cause of septic illness in patients who have been visiting Southeast Asia.