ABSTRACT
Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, mostly affecting patients in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. The disease has
been increasingly recognized around the world due to the increased levels of travel
and population movement. Clinical manifestations of melioidosis range from fulminant
septicemic illness to an indolent local infection. The disease often involves multiple
organs, including the lung, spleen, liver, and other visceral organs. Musculoskeletal
infection is usually seen as a part of multiorgan involvement, but localized musculoskeletal
involvement may occur. The most common manifestation of musculoskeletal melioidosis
is septic arthritis, followed by osteomyelitis, pyomyositis, and soft tissue abscesses.
The clinical and radiological manifestations of musculoskeletal melioidosis are nonspecific,
and the diagnosis needs a high level of suspicion. Associated infection of lungs and
visceral organs is suggestive of melioidosis. The disease requires special laboratory
facilities and treatment. Inappropriate or inadequate treatment leads to high mortality
rate or long-term relapse of the disease. The causative organism of melioidosis, clinical
manifestations, and imaging features of musculoskeletal melioidosis are reviewed.
KEYWORDS
Burkholderia pseudomallei
- infective arthritis - melioidosis - osteomyelitis
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Nuttaya PattamapaspongM.D.
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
110 Intavaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Email: nuttaya@gmail.com
