Abstract: This article reports a case of cutaneous infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei and reviews the relevant literature. The patient was a 63-year-old male who presented with skin hyperplasia on the dorsum of the right foot for 3 months and a painful mass on the right thigh for 1 month. The diagnosis of cutaneous Burkholderia pseudomallei infection was confirmed by DNA-pathogen metagenomic detection and bacterial culture. According to the drug sensitivity results, ceftazidime and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were administered, combined with incision and drainage of local abscesses, and the skin lesions subsided. Literature review showed that among 36 patients with Burkholderia pseudomallei infection presenting with skin manifestations as the primary symptom, there was no significant gender difference, the lower extremities were the most common affected site (52.8%), 41.7% were complicated with diabetes mellitus, and 55.6% developed migratory infection. Antibacterial therapy centered on ceftazidime and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combined with necessary surgical intervention resulted in a cure rate of 94.4%.

Key words: Burkholderia pseudomallei, cutaneous-to-cutaneous metastatic abscess, cutaneous melioidosis