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Case Reports
. 2017 Sep 19;7(4):245-247.
doi: 10.1080/20009666.2017.1348875. eCollection 2017 Oct.

Melioidosis: the great mimicker

Mandeep Singh  1 , Mehvish Mahmood  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Melioidosis: the great mimicker

Mandeep Singh et al. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. .

Abstract

Melioidosis is an infectious disease endemic in Northern Australia and South East Asia. It is associated with high degrees of morbidity and mortality. On average, around five cases are diagnosed annually in the USA. Diagnosis remains a challenge, as it mimics many other conditions, especially tuberculosis, hence its other name, the 'great mimicker.' The present case involves a recent traveler to the Philippines, who presented with episodic fevers and weight loss to his primary care physician. Blood cultures ordered grew Burkholderia pseudomallei. Primary care physicians should suspect melioidosis in symptomatic patients with travel history to endemic areas.

Keywords: Burkholderia pseudomallei; Philippines; melioidosis; travel; travel medicine.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Light microscopy showing characteristic bipolar staining with ‘safety pin’–like appearance.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Characteristic wrinkled appearance of colonies on Ashdown agar growth medium.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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