Melioidosis Presenting as Fever and Jaundice: A Rare Presentation

Abstract

Melioidosis caused by the environmental Gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei is endemic in northern Australia and Southeast Asia and is being described increasingly from south and west coastal regions of India. Melioidosis is known to have high mortality (14-50%) and the risk factors associated with it are diabetes mellitus and heavy alcohol abuse. Melioidosis primarily presents as pneumonia, genitourinary infection and bacteremia. We present a case of Melioidosis from North India, a 56-year-old diabetic male, presenting with fever and jaundice. His blood culture was positive for the B. pseudomallei. The hepatic involvement was in the form of jaundice with serum bilirubin value of more than 12mg/dL, hepatic enzymes more than ten times high and without hepatic abscess. He improved with intravenous antibiotics with complete normalization of liver function tests.