Burkholderia cepacia complex infection in a cohort of Italian patients with cystic fibrosis

J Microbiol. 2007 Jun;45(3):275-9.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to detect Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) strains in a cohort of Cystic Fibrosis patients (n=276) and to characterize Bcc isolates by molecular techniques. The results showed that 11.23% of patients were infected by Bcc. Burkholderia cenocepacia lineage III-A was the most prevalent species (64.3%) and, of these, 10% was cblA positive and 50% esmR positive. Less than half of the strains were sensitive to ceftazidime, meropenem, piperacillin tazobactam, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. About half of the strains (41%) had homogeneous profiles, suggesting cross-transmission. The infection by B. cenocepacia was associated to a high rate of mortality (p=0.01).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Burkholderia Infections / epidemiology
  • Burkholderia Infections / microbiology*
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex / classification
  • Burkholderia cepacia complex / isolation & purification*
  • Child
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications*
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial