Septicemic melioidosis presenting as head and neck abscesses

Melioidosis is a life-threatening disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. It may manifest as a pulmonary lesion, osteomyelitis, septicemia, or abscesses of soft tissue or various organs. However, soft tissue abscess associated with bacteremia, especially those found in the head and neck, are rarely reported. We report a case of disseminated septicemia due to Burkholderia pseudomallei presenting as head and neck abscesses in a 55-year-old Korean man with a history of working in Malaysia. This is the first report of fatal melioidosis presenting as a complicated skin and soft tissue infection, in Korea.