Fatal melioidosis in a tourist returning from Thailand

Severe infections with Pseudomonas pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is a common cause of community acquired septicaemia in South East Asia and parts of Northern Australia, but infection in travellers returning to the United Kingdom is extremely rare. We describe the case of a tourist who acquired melioidosis in Thailand. Despite intensive intravenous therapy with antibiotics to which the organism was sensitive, the patient's infection proved fatal. Ps. pseudomallei was isolated from blood cultures at a late stage in his illness by use of a commercial blood culture system that included an antibiotic removal device (Bac/TAlert, Organon-Technica).