Burkholderia pseudomallei infection in a Puerto Rican patient with chronic granulomatous disease: Case report and review of occurrences in the Americas

Abstract

Burkholderia species, notably Burkholderia cepacia and Burkholderia gladioli, are important pathogens in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia but is a rare pathogen in other parts of the world. We describe the occurrence of B. pseudomallei infection in a Puerto Rican patient with CGD. This is one of only a small number of documented cases of melioidosis autochthonous to the Americas and is the first reported case of B. pseudomallei infection in a CGD patient from the Americas. We conclude that B. pseudomallei, like B. cepacia and B. gladioli, should be considered a potential pathogen in patients with CGD and that melioidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for ill residents of or travelers to Puerto Rico.