Systemic Melioidosis With Ruptured Splenic Abscess

Abstract

Melioidosis is a severe systemic disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, commonly found in soil, ground water, and ponds of endemic regions. It is transmitted to humans via percutaneous inoculation while working in these areas without protective clothing and footwear giving rise to the disease which has a high case fatality rate. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations, varying from asymptomatic infection to localized abscess formation to fulminating disease with multiple organ involvement and even death. Currently, there are no known pathognomonic features or specific criteria which can lead to a confident diagnosis of melioidosis. The gold standard diagnostic test is culture sensitivity of blood, pus, or bodily fluids, which itself has a low sensitivity. Imaging findings are not specific and can mimic other bacterial infection. However, awareness of these radiographic manifestations in multiple organs can raise the possibility of diagnosis and lead to more early proper treatment and thereby lower the high mortality associated with this disease. We here present a rare case of systemic melioidosis with ruptured splenic abscess managed laboriously with antibiotics and splenectomy and wish to review the literature.