Work

Case report: Cervical suppurative lymphadenitis caused by burkholderia multivorans in a healthy child

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cervical suppurative lymphadenitis in children is commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. However, cases caused by Burkholderia multivorans (BM) are rare. The clinical presentation lacks specificity, making it difficult for clinicians to recognize, which may delay diagnosis and treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 5-year-old boy admitted with recurrent fever and neck swelling. Initial treatment with meropenem and linezolid was ineffective, and symptoms persisted after 24 days of conservative therapy. Aspiration of pus yielded negative culture results. Definitive diagnosis was achieved through surgical biopsy of cervical lymph nodes, pathological examination, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), which identified BM as the causative pathogen. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and meropenem. The cervical lesion exhibited granulomatous inflammation and was managed with adjunctive vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy, resulting in complete wound healing without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to raise awareness among all specialists about BM as a potential causative agent in cervical suppurative lymphadenitis. Early recognition and timely intervention can reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, improving patient outcomes.

Source: BMC Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-025-11033-y

Authors: Bei-bei Niu, Jing-jing Xu, Ji-an Li, Ling-dong Zhu

Institution: Shandong University

Language: English

Topic: Burkholderia infections and melioidosis

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,090