Melioidosis presenting as pseudomyxoma peritonei: yet another pretense of the great mimicker: an unreported entity.

BACKGROUND

Melioidosis, a lethal infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, an important human pathogen in tropical regions, is notorious for its diverse clinical presentations.

METHODS

We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with a history of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma five years back, who presented with complaints of chest pain, abdominal distention, and breathlessness for one week. Ultrasound-guided aspiration of the peritoneal free fluid revealed a thick gelatinous material consistent with pseudomyxoma peritonei. Cytologic analysis of the aspirate was negative for malignant cells, but bacterial culture proved positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei.

RESULTS

She was started on ceftazidime, and she improved symptomatically and was discharged on oral doxycycline and chloramphenicol after three weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy.

CONCLUSION

This case is being reported to emphasize an unusual presentation of melioidosis and the significance of timely appropriate antibiotic therapy.