Melioidosis is a tropical disease of socioeconomic disadvantage caused by the environmental, Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. The previously recognised geographical boundaries of melioidosis are expanding and in northern Queensland, the incidence is increasing. Melioidosis is an opportunistic infection; people with diabetes mellitus, hazardous alcohol use, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, malignancy and/or immunosuppression are most at risk at developing the disease. People with melioidosis usually present with pneumonia and/or bacteraemia, but any organ can be involved. The disease can be severe; around 25% of people will require intensive care unit support and even in well-resourced health settings, approximately 10% of people die from the disease. To effectively treat melioidosis and prevent it from recurring, intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics are required. Treatment is prolonged and significant adverse drug reactions are common. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment complexities of melioidosis.