title: Melioidosis with a Pericardial Effusion, which Relapsed as a Chest Wall Abscess: A Rare Presentation.
abstract: Melioidosis, which is caused by a soil saprophyte, Burkholderia pseudomallei, is most prevalent in the south-west coast of India. Although it is frequently seen in immunocompromised patients, melioidosis can occur in apparently normal individuals. Melioidosis can involve almost any organ. A relapse of melioidosis is usually associated with a poor adherence to the eradication therapy, a multifocal involvement and bacteraemia. A relapsing melioidosis is usually known to follow a similar pattern of organ involvement in the first and second episodes of the infection. We are discussing here, a rare case of melioidosis in a 38-year-old construction-worker, with no risk factors, who presented initially with a pericardial effusion. It relapsed 6 months after he completed the prescribed eradication therapy for 3 months, as an anterior chest wall abscess. The author recommends a high index of suspicion for the relapsed melioidosis cases, inspite of the primary episode being non-bacteraemic and compliant with the recommended therapy, in order to avoid further complications.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Father Muller Medical College , Kankanady, Mangalore-575002, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Rashmi Teresa
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mathai K
authors.forename: K Sundara
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Mayank
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarawag
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: K P
keywords: Chest wall abscess; Melioidosis; Pericardial effusion; Relapse