Travel-associated Burkholderia pseudomallei infection (Melioidosis) in a patient with cystic fibrosis: A case report

In September 1997, a 25-year-old Italian woman with cystic fibrosis (CF) sp ent 3 weeks in Thailand. In August 1998, her pulmonary function rapidly dec lined, with productive cough and intermittent fever. Chest x-ray films reve aled diffuse, small, patchy opacities in the upper lobes. Burkholderia pseu domallei (BP) was isolated from specimens of the patient's sputum and was i dentified by means of 16S rDNA sequencing. The diagnosis of melioidosis was serologically confirmed. Continuous therapy with ceftazidime and co-trimox azole and maintenance with co-trimoxazole, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol resulted in eradication of BP. We present the issue of whether patients wi th CF represent a population particularly at risk for melioidosis.