Practical Management of Cystic Fibrosis
Abstract
Chronic Respiratory Disease 2006; 3: 161165 www.CRDjournal.com The isolation of Burkholderia cepacia complex organ- isms can have a devastating effect on many patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and is often the most difficult event to occur in their lives. Infection results in strict segrega- tion, reduced likelihood of transplantation and is associ- ated with both increased morbidity and mortality. Although the prevalence of B. cepacia complex is rel- atively low at around 5% in most countries, in centres where there have been significant outbreaks of this infec- tion, the prevalence can be as high as 25%.1,2 Thankfully, with strict infection control measures, cross infection has been reduced to a minimum and the incidence of new infection with this organism is less than 1% even in those centres with a relatively high prevalence.3,4 The clear taxonomy of species within the Burkholderia cepacia complex has greatly helped understanding the epidemiology of this organism. Some of the historical data is difficult to interpret as the organism has been previously called Pseudomonas cepacia. Until a few years ago B. cepacia complex infection was reported as being a single organism, then as genomovars and more recently as Burkholderia species with B. cenocepacia and