A Rare Case of Burkholderia Pseudomallie Presenting as Brain Abscess

Rationale: Meiliodosis is an extremely rare condition in Neurosurgery which is caused by the gram negative organism Burkholderia pseudomallie. Burkholderia pseudomallei (also known as Pseudomonas pseudomallei) is a Gram-negative, bipolar, aerobic, motile rod-shaped bacterium. It is a soil-dwelling bacterium endemic in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, particularly in Thailand and northern Australia. It infects humans and animals and causes the disease melioidosis. It is also capable of infecting plants. If treatment is below par or delayed, this infection can produce diverse clinical symptoms and result in death. Patient Concerns: A 52 year old female, known case of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus on insulin, presented with complaints of a swelling in the left parieto-occipital region since 2 months & headache since 1 month. She had a past history of a fall from scooter 7 months ago, which then was not radiologically imaged. Patient was, otherwise, conscious, oriented and had no focal neurological deficit. Diagnosis: left parieto-occipital space occupying lesion confirmed by Ct brain and [mri + mrv] brain and culture and sensitivity of fluid aspirate showed moderate growth of burkholderia pseudomallie. Interventions: Intravenous Ceftazidime [1 g/12 h] was administered in-hospital for 4 weeks (Intensive Phase) and Oral Cotrimoxazole (Trimethoprim + sulfomethoxazole) {TAB.BACTRIM DS} twice daily was administered out-hospital (Maintenance Phase). Patient underwent Left parieto-occipital abscess drainage and debridement [Pus sent for Culture and Sensitivity] – Abscess drainage and removal of irregular thinned out bone around the skull defect + Biopsies sent from small extradural collection near the skull defect.Intravenous Ceftazidime was continued and discharged with Oral Cotrimoxazole (Trimethoprim + sulfomethoxazole).