title: Pulmonary melioidosis presenting with pleural effusion: A case report and review of literature.
abstract: Melioidosis is a serious infection, which can involve multiple systems. We report a case of pulmonary melioidosis with the initial presentation mimicking a partially treated pneumonia complicated by right-sided pleural effusion. The patient is a 49-year old man who did not respond to parenteral ceftriaxone and tazobactam/piperacillin therapy. However, upon culture and sensitivity results from blood and pleural samples isolated Burkholderia pseudomallei; antimicrobial therapy was de-escalated to parenteral ceftazidime. Within 72 h duration, his fever subsided and other respiratory symptoms improved tremendously. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of B. pseudomallei in pulmonary infection in order for prompt institution of appropriate antibiotics treatment; thus reducing morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chun Ian
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sopian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdul Wahab
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdul Hamid
keywords: Burkholderia pseudomallei; Melioidosis; Pleural effusion; Pneumonia; TMP-SMX, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole