Pulmonary tuberculosis and melioidosis coinfection in Brunei Darussalam: the importance of awareness and screening

Authors

  • Abdur Rahman Rubel Department of Medicine, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Babu Ivan Mani Department of Medicine, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Panduru Venkata Kishore Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Vui Heng Chong Department of Medicine, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2022.13.4.957

Keywords:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, melioidosis, coinfection

Abstract

Both tuberculosis (TB) and melioidosis are endemic to certain parts of the world, including Brunei Darussalam, with TB being more widespread. Despite this, coinfection with TB and melioidosis is rarely encountered and reported. Although still uncommon, there has been an increase in the number of cases of this coinfection reported during the past 10 years, all of which have been in India and the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region. We report a case of coinfection with pulmonary TB and melioidosis in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. This 64-year-old man presented with symptoms and radiological features of pulmonary TB, confirmed by sputum smear, but sputum culture also yielded Burkholderia pseudomallei, the pathogen that causes melioidosis. Coinfection was detected due to our practice of routinely screening for other infections in patients suspected or confirmed to have pulmonary TB. This highlights the importance of awareness of melioidosis and the need to consider screening for infection, especially in endemic regions.

Author Biography

Vui Heng Chong, Department of Medicine, Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Consultant

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Published

19-12-2022

How to Cite

1.
Rubel AR, Mani BI, Kishore PV, Chong VH. Pulmonary tuberculosis and melioidosis coinfection in Brunei Darussalam: the importance of awareness and screening. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 19 [cited 2026 Mar. 22];13(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/957

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2022): October – December

Section

Case Report / Case Series

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