A case report of pulmonary melioidosis with the air crescent sign

Abstract

Melioidosis is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Diagnosis of melioidosis is difficult due to its diverse clinical manifestations and ability to mimic many other diseases. We report a case of pulmonary melioidosis in a diabetic patient with the air crescent sign evident on a thoracic computed tomography. B. pseudomallei was cultured from the patient's sputum and pleural fluid samples. The infection fully resolved following antimicrobial treatment for melioidosis. This case report highlights the importance of recognizing the air crescent sign as a radiological manifestation of melioidosis to facilitate the prompt administration of appropriate antibiotic treatment, thus reducing morbidity and mortality.