Burkholderia cepacia

Burkholderia cepacia is the name for a group or “complex” of bacteria that can be found in soil and water. B. cepacia bacteria are often resistant to common antibiotics.

Burkholderia cepacia

Pronunciation

[burk-hōld–er–ee-uh si–pay–shee–uh]

Other names

(also called B. cepacia)

Populations susceptible to B. cepacia infection

• B. cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people.
• However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosisexternal icon, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia.
• B cepacia is a known cause of infections in hospitalized patients.

Symptoms of B. cepacia infection

• The effects of B. cepacia on people vary widely, ranging from no symptoms at all to serious respiratory infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Transmission of B. cepacia infection

Transmission of B. cepacia from contaminated medicines and devices has been reported.

B. cepacia can also be spread to susceptible persons by:

• Person-to-person contact
• Contact with contaminated surfaces
• Exposure to B. cepacia in the environment.
• Treatment of B. cepacia infection
• B. cepacia can be resistant to many common antibiotics.

Decisions on the treatment of infections with B. cepacia should be made on a case-by-case basis.

Other burkholderia

• Burkholderia mallei — see Glanders
• Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection — see Melioidosis