Melioidosis and idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: a cast‐iron case. Issue 2 (3rd October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerhardy, Benjamin; Simpson, Graham
• Is Part Of: Respirology case reports. Volume 1:Issue 2(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2013-10-03
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.25
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-3380

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Melioidosis is an infection with clinical importance in northern Australia due to the high associated mortality despite appropriate therapy. This report presents a case of acute pulmonary melioidosis on a background remarkable for the absence of typical risk factors for infection, but the presence of a high iron pulmonary microenvironment consequent to idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. In light of recent genetic analysis of <italic>B</italic><italic>urkholderia pseudomallei</italic>, we postulate that the patient inadvertently provided a high‐substrate environment for the iron‐scavenging ability of <italic>B</italic><italic>. pseudomallei</italic>'s siderophore associated virulence factors, giving her a unique major risk factor for infection. This highlights the importance of considering individual patient factors in addition to population‐wide risk factors in the differential diagnosis of a serious illness, and the value of genetic analysis of clinically significant pathogens.</p> </abstract>