2024 Volume 73 Issue 4 Pages 807-813
Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) is an environmental bacterium distributed in soil and water. Common mode of infections include inhalation of dust or water droplets from contaminated soil and contact between skin wounds and soil. We encountered a case of B. pseudomallei infection that was detected in a pleural effusion. The patient was a Thai male. He was admitted to our hospital with fever, chills, pleural effusion, cardiomegaly, renal dysfunction, and elevated inflammatory response. Gram-negative bacilli were observed in a pleural fluid culture collected on admission. These bacilli formed smooth colonies on sheep blood agar and Drigalsky agar fractionated medium. Gram staining showed a characteristic clip-like appearance, and continued incubation on agar mediumresulted in mucoid colonies, that contracted and wrinkled after one week. Identification tests, including growth at 42°C, negative reaction on acetamide medium, and motility, confirmed that the pathogen was B. pseudomallei. Positive oxidase test and clavulanic (CVA/AMPC) and resistant to gentamycin (GM) and colistin (CL), which were consistent with the characteristics of B. pseudomallei. Furthermore, B. pseudomallei was identified by LAMP and Multiplex PCR. we review the literature and report on this rare case.
