Melioidosis Mycotic Aortic Aneurysms – a Review of the North Queensland Experience

Melioidosis is an infection of Burkholderia (B.) pseudomallei, a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium endemic to North Queensland and South-East Asia, causing a disease with high mortality. Mycotic aneurysms from melioidosis are rare, with less than 20 described in the literature. These aneurysms tend to be saccular, with operative options including endovascular stent-graft coverage or ligation and excision with extra-anatomical bypass reconstruction. We reviewed our management of melioid mycotic aortic aneurysms in a high-volume vascular surgery unit in North Queensland.