title: Splenic abscesses in a returning traveler.
abstract: Burkholderia, an aerobic gram-negative rod, is the causative organism behind melioidosis and is a common soil and water organism found predominantly in South-East Asia. We report the case of a 68 year-old man returning from an extended trip to the Philippines, with splenic hypodense lesions on abdominal computer tomography scan, later confirmed to be culture-positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei. The patient was treated with a course of intravenous ceftazidime followed by eradication therapy with oral doxycycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. He recovered with complete resolution of symptoms at follow up. In a returning traveler from an endemic area, melioidosis should be considered as part of the differential for any febrile illness with abscesses.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center , Fontana, CA, USA.
authors: Richard F
authors: RF
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Inpatient Pharmacy, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center , Fontana, CA, USA.
authors: Frances L
authors: FL
authors: Wong
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center , Fontana, CA, USA.
authors: Mario L
authors: ML
authors: Perez
keywords: burkholderia pseudomallei; melioidosis; returning traveler; splenic abscess