Burkholderia pseudomallei was Identified in a Melioidosis Aneurysm using Polymerase Chain Reaction Targeting 23S rRNA

Melioidosis abdominal aortic aneurysm and splenic abscesses lead to poor prognosis and high mortality rate as high as 50% due to delayed/missed diagnosis. We describe an attempt to identify Burkholderia pseudomallei immediately, which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequence analysis of 23S rRNA gene. PCR is not only an unambiguous identification of B. pseudomallei but also a rapid detection because B. pseudomallei may not be readily isolated. For patients of melioidosis abdominal aortic aneurysm with spleen abscess, prolonged antibiotic therapy, splenectomy and artificial vessel replacement provided an excellent result in our study. The progression, roentgenographic findings and histopathology character of melioidosis are similar to those of tuberculosis disease. PCR is useful to differentiate B. pseudomallei from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.