VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 1 ( January-February, 2025 ) > List of Articles
Cherian Roy, Rupali Patnaik, Shakti B Mishra, Pragnya P Jena
Keywords : Burkholderia pseudomallei, Case report, Multifocal abscess, Septic shock
Citation Information : Roy C, Patnaik R, Mishra SB, Jena PP. A Case of Hepatic, Splenic, and Prostatic Abscesses in One Patient with Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection. 2025; 4 (1):15-18.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11006-0145
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 30-12-2024
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2025; The Author(s).
Introduction: Melioidosis results from infection by Burkholderia pseudomallei. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant septicemia with septic shock. We describe a case where one patient with pneumonia and septic shock was found to have a disseminated abscesses there in the liver, spleen, and prostate. Case description: He was presented to the hospital emergency with septic shock and hypoxemic respiratory failure and transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Two sets of blood cultures sent at admission showed growth of nonlactose fermenting gram-negative rods. The organism was identified as B. pseudomallei by an automated VITEK2 Compact system. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed hepatomegaly with multiple abscesses, multiple splenic micro abscesses, prostatomegaly with multiple prostatic abscesses, and of thorax suggested multiple variable-sized nodules with subpleural consolidation. He received intravenous meropenem followed by ceftazidime for a total of 4 weeks. With clinical resolution, he was started on oral antibiotics trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and was discharged home to continue for 3 months. Discussion: Disseminated abscesses especially involving the liver and spleen are characteristics of melioidosis. Interestingly, in our case, a single patient had multifocal abscesses involving the liver, spleen, and prostate along with lung involvement. Conclusion: Melioidosis with disseminated abscess in a single patient especially of prostatic abscess as in our case has been rarely reported.