Raro caso de melioidosis en Colombia: neumonía adquirida en la comunidad, bacteriemia y choque séptico causado por Burkholderia pseudomallei

Melioidosis is an under-diagnosed tropical disease in many geographic areas. Colombia ranks second in the frequency of reported melioidosis cases in South America. Its clinical manifestations are nonspecific, which is why it is referred to as “the Great Mimicker.” The most commonly used method for identifying Burkholderia pseudomallei in regions without access to molecular testing is direct smear or culture. Risk factors associated with this disease include chronic illnesses, male sex, glucocorticoid use, working in rice fields, and increased exposure to soil and water. We report a clinical case of a 96-year-old adult patient who developed community-acquired pneumonia, bacteremia, and septic shock caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei without a clear epidemiological link to infection.