Abstract

The clinical spectrum of Burkholderia cepacia infection ranges from asymptomatic carrier state to fulminant pneumonia and death. In this article, a case of B. cepacia pneumonia, which was misdiagnosed as invasive aspergillosis because of the radiological findings, is presented. In order to confirm the diagnosis of aspergillosis, culture of bronchoscopic lavage and tissue biopsy were performed and non-specific antibiotic treatment was preferably started. Culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed B. cepacia infection and it was treated with ciprofloxacin. With this report, characteristics of the B. cepacia infection, which may be endemic among hemodialysis patients, are reviewed. The resemblance of lesions to aspergilloma and the importance of tissue biopsy result for the diagnosis of aspergilloma were pointed out.