Acute Disseminated Melioidosis Presenting as Acute Retention of Urine

A Case of Imported Melioidosis Presenting as Prostatitis

“…Our patient presented bacteremia and prostatic abscesses. Prostatic melioidosis has been well described [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] but was considered to be rare. However, in a recent prospective study of 252 cases in northern Australia [4], the presence of prostatic abscesses in 18% of men is far higher than reported in the studies from Thailand [10].…”

Melioidosis of the Prostate

“…Melioidosis is not endemic in Brisbane, with both cases treated in Brisbane being contracted in North Queensland. The bacterium is found in soil and water and routes of infection are ingestion, inhalation or minor trauma 3 . Melioidosis usually presents as pulmonary infection or fever of unknown origin 3 .…”

“…The bacterium is found in soil and water and routes of infection are ingestion, inhalation or minor trauma 3 . Melioidosis usually presents as pulmonary infection or fever of unknown origin 3 . The main risk factors for developing melioidosis in the Darwin epidemic of 1990–1991 were alcohol and diabetes mellitis 6 .…”

“…Untreated, acute melioidosis is rapidly fatal with a mortality rate of 80–100% 3 . Treatment is hindered by delayed diagnosis, especially in non‐endemic areas, and if there is antimicrobial resistance and abscess formation.…”

“…Analysis of visceral abscesses due to melioidosis in Thailand showed that the prostate was involved in 2.5% of patients 2 . Melioidosis presenting as acute urinary retention due to an acutely inflamed prostate has been reported 3 . Two cases are reported here of melioidosis of the prostate—relapsing, disseminated melioidosis due to prostatic abscesses and septicaemia with acute urinary retention due to prostatic abscesses.…”