Terminal exacerbation of chronic melioidosis in New South Wales

A fatal case of melioidosis, thought to be the third recorded from New South Wales, is presented. Infection probably occurred in Queensland. The patients presented with a subcutaneous abscess complicated by pyaemia, extensive lung involvement and septicaemic shock. The diagnosis was bacteriologically confirmed shortly before death, by isolation of Pseudomonas pseudomallei from blood, pus swabs and tracheal aspirates. There is a need for greater awareness of this disease in persons who have resided in South-East Asia and in North-Eastern Australia.