Case of misdiagnosed melioidosis from Hue city, Vietnam

Hoang Bach Nguyen; Thi Khanh Linh Nguyen; Thi Thuy Ung; Thi Thao  Nhi Mai; Thi Nhu  Hoa Tran; Viet Quynh Tram Ngo; Van An Le

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9796

Hoang Bach Nguyen Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Thi Khanh Linh Nguyen Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Thi Thuy Ung Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Thi Thao Nhi Mai Department of Basic Internal Medicine, Phan Chau Trinh University, Quang Nam, Vietnam
Thi Nhu Hoa Tran Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Viet Quynh Tram Ngo Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Van An Le Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9796

Keywords: Diagnostic errors; Melioidosis; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Aeromonas salmonicida; 16S ribosomal RNA

Abstract

Melioidosis is an emerging infection, a potentially fatal tropical disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei in humans and animals, endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Diagnosis remains problematic due to its similarity to many other infections. The lack of clinical awareness and correct microbiological diagnosis contributes to the misidentification of melioidosis. We present a melioidosis case, which was misdiagnosed with pneumonia and septicemia due to Aeromonas salmonicida, leading to ineffective prolonged-course antibiotic treatment for the patient.