Melioidosis of lumbar vertebra.

Melioidosis, an uncommon infectious disease caused by pseudomonas pseudomalei, was reported in many different clinical pictures. But only one case of vertebral osteomyelitis presented in this report concerns a case of melioidosis of the lumbar vertebra which presented as an unusual picture of back pain and paravertebral abscess. No underlying diseases were detected. A definite diagnosis was based on a culture of pus from the abscess and needle aspiration of the lumbar vertebra. Treatment consisting of adequate drainage and proper antibiotics proved to be effective in curing the disease. The result is satisfactory. No evidence of recurrence was detected after 6 months of flow-up.