Melioidosis. Forgotten, but not gone!

Musculoskeletal melioidosis: clinical and imaging features

“…The causative organism of melioidosis, P. pseudomalIei, is an aerobic, bipolar-staining, pleomorphic, gram-negative bacillus commonly found in the soil and surface water in southeast Asia and northern Australia. Sporadic cases have been reported in North America and Europe among Asian immigrants and Vietnam veterans [2,7]. The organism is harbored by animals, including rats, dogs, horses, rodents, goats, fleas, and mosquitoes.…”

Cutaneous Melioidosis in a Man Who Was Taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese during World War II

“…Melioidosis can present as an acute (88%) or chronic (22%) infection (symptoms present for Ͼ2 months) and is notorious for relapsing after treatment. In the literature, there are only two case reports of reactivation of melioidosis after primary exposure to a region where melioidosis is endemic after 18 and 28 years in a Vietnam veteran and a World War II veteran, respectively (7,8). We report a case of reactivated melioidosis in a World War II veteran 62 years after exposure.…”

Cavitary Pulmonary Disease

“…Pulmonary disease can present in an acute or chronic form and either be localized or part of disseminated infection (165). Furthermore, infection can be latent and reactivate many years after exposure, such as is observed in Vietnam war veterans who develop disease many years after returning to the United States (198). Acute pulmonary disease presents as high fever, chills, coughing, chest pain, and dyspnea.…”