Cutaneous melioidosis in a man who was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese during World War II

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Feb;43(2):970-2. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.2.970-972.2005.

Abstract

Melioidosis, an infection caused by the gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei, is endemic to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Human infection is acquired through contact with contaminated water via percutaneous inoculation. Clinical manifestations range from skin and soft tissue infection to pneumonia with sepsis. We report a case of a man who was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese during World War II who presented with a nonhealing ulcer on his right hand 62 years after the initial exposure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asia, Southeastern
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / classification
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / genetics
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Melioidosis / diagnosis*
  • Melioidosis / microbiology
  • Prisoners*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Veterans*
  • World War II*