Bacterium
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Soil non-fermenter causing melioidosis
burk-hol-DER-ee-uh soo-doh-MAL-ee-eye
High-yield clue
Soil/water non-fermenter causing melioidosis with bipolar 'safety-pin' staining; a great mimicker that can reactivate years later.
Overview
An environmental Gram-negative non-fermenting rod found in tropical soil and water that causes melioidosis, a great-mimicker infection prominent in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Burkholderiaceae
- Aerobe
- Non-fermenter
Lab & identification clues
- Bipolar 'safety-pin' staining vocabulary
- Oxidase positive concept
- Wrinkled colony morphology note
- Soil and surface water origin vocabulary
Associations
- Southeast Asia and northern Australia geography vocabulary
- Soil/water and monsoon exposure transmission
- Latent reactivation ('great mimicker') framing
Commonly confused with
- Burkholderia cepacia complex
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Frequently asked questions
What is Burkholderia pseudomallei?
An environmental Gram-negative non-fermenting rod found in tropical soil and water that causes melioidosis, a great-mimicker infection prominent in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
What is the Gram stain of Burkholderia pseudomallei?
Burkholderia pseudomallei is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Burkholderia pseudomallei?
Lab clues for Burkholderia pseudomallei include Bipolar 'safety-pin' staining vocabulary, Oxidase positive concept, Wrinkled colony morphology note, and Soil and surface water origin vocabulary.
What is Burkholderia pseudomallei commonly confused with?
Burkholderia pseudomallei is commonly confused with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.