A Man with Melioidosis Mimicking Tuberculosis

The authors present a case of melioidosis with spondylitis and multiple internal organ abscesses including prostatic and psoas abscesses that mimic tuberculosis. The patient was a 61-year-old man who had pulmonary tuberculosis successfully treated 8 months ago. He developed subacute fever and progressive low back pain. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed spondylitis of sacrum and a large left psoas abscess. A transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate revealed a prostatic abscess. Both urine and drained pus from psoas abscess grew Burkholderia pseudomallei. After treatment, the patient showed a significant clinical improvement. (J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2011;28:191-96.)