Cross infection between cystic fibrosis patients colonised with Burkholderia cepacia. Issue 5 (1st May 1998)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ledson, M J; Gallagher, M J; Corkill, J E; Hart, C A; Walshaw, M J
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 53:Issue 5(1998)
• Page Start: 432
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 1998-05-01
• Subjects: Burkholderia cepacia -- cystic fibrosis -- cross infection; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thx.53.5.432
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Whilst patient to patient spread of the respiratory pathogen Burkholderia cepacia is well recognised between patients with cystic fibrosis, prompting a strict segregation policy, cross colonisation between cystic fibrosis patients already infected with B cepacia has not been described and surveys show a very low incidence of patients with more than one strain. Five adult cystic fibrosis patients with B cepacia are presented who became cross colonised with a second B cepacia (UK epidemic) strain, four of whom then died, three from the cepacia syndrome. These cases show that, amongst segregated patients, cross colonisation with different B cepacia strains is possible, and even in these patients the acquisition of the UK epidemic strain may have a fatal outcome. In future it may be necessary to segregate cystic fibrosis patients colonised with the UK epidemic strain from all other patients with cystic fibrosis.