A case report of Burkholderia mallei infection leading to pneumonia

Background: Glanders is a rare zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei. Humans can be infected by B. mallei, which causes cutaneous lymphadenitis and pneumonia, leading to sepsis and death in severe cases. Case presentation: We report a case of a 60-year-old male who was diagnosed with glanders. The patient who had a history of diabetes presented with cough, expectoration, and fever. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed B. mallei infection in the right upper lobe of the lung with mediastinal lymph node involvement and the lingual segment of the left lung. Moreover, the posterior basal segment of the lower lobe of both lungs had inflammation. Subsequently, B. mallei infection was confirmed by lymph node biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage multiplex PCR-based targeted gene sequencing. After meropenem treatment, the patient was discharged, and CT imaging showed reduced absorption of pulmonary inflammatory lesions. Conclusions: Glanders is a rare disease that can cause skin infection, lymphadenitis, and pneumonia and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. The diagnosis of this disease mainly relies on microbiological culture and pathological biopsy. Diagnosis is also facilitated by multiplex PCR-based targeted gene sequencing facilitates the diagnosis of this disease. Glanders is treated with cephalosporins, carbapenems, and other sensitive antibiotics.