Burkholderia cepacia is a resilient bacterium that can cause serious respiratory infections and is resistant to many antibiotics. It can be difficult to prevent exposure, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at high risk. Diagnosis involves analyzing blood and mucus cultures, and treatment involves administering different types of antibiotics until one is found to work.
Burkholderia cepacia is a very common bacterium that can cause serious respiratory tract infections. It is a robust and prolific pathogen that can survive in soil, water, and even normally sterile media such as antibacterial soaps and vials of drugs. The bacterium is harmless to most healthy people, but individuals with weakened immune systems are at high risk of infection. Burkholderia cepacia is resistant to many common antibiotics and can quickly adapt new defenses to drugs, so it can be difficult to treat. Patients who fall ill are typically quarantined in hospital rooms and given different types of antibiotics until one that works is found.
It is nearly impossible to prevent Burkholderia cepacia exposure in highly populated communities and crowded buildings, such as hospitals. The human immune system is usually strong enough to prevent Burkholderia cepacia infection, but some conditions can lead to serious complications. People who have AIDS and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are at high risk of infection. A genetic condition called cystic fibrosis, which involves chronic lung disease, greatly increases your chances of contracting the bacteria and experiencing severe symptoms.
A person who develops a mild Burkholderia cepacia infection may not have any symptoms. Some people experience a wet cough, sore throat, and a slight fever. In the case of a severe infection, an individual may have symptoms of pneumonia, such as high fever, chills, fatigue and chest pains. Patients with cystic fibrosis are likely to develop a chronic, bloody, mucus-heavy cough and extreme difficulty breathing without the aid of oxygen masks.
Doctors who suspect Burkholderia cepacia can confirm the diagnosis by analyzing blood samples and mucus cultures collected from the back of the throat. Lab specialists first test the samples to see if the bacterium is present, then attempt to eradicate the pathogen from the cultures with different types of antibiotics. Drugs that are found to be effective against the cultures are immediately administered to the patient through an intravenous line.
Co-trimoxazole, cefepime, and meropenem are often the most helpful antibiotics in treating an acute infection. However, some strains of bacteria develop resistance to these drugs, and many other drugs may need to be administered by trial and error until one is found to work. Other symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and fever are treated accordingly with other medications and clinical procedures. Burkholderia cepacia infections can usually be cured in about two weeks with consistent treatment and close monitoring.
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