Cepacia - A Great Mimicker

Mohammed Shanil P, Farsana Jasmin K

Abstract: Burkholderia cepacia is a pathogen usually causing infection to immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. Burkholderia is considered as one of the main causal agents of sepsis commonly associated with various health care products constant risk for people with certain predisposing characteristics, such as those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ventilator - associated pneumonia (VAP) or Cystic fibrosis. It is also associated with infections in patients with underlying lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease. We present a case of B. cepacia sputum positivity in a patient with COPD who was hospitalized due to chronic infection. We speculate that B. cepacia, as a chronic colonizer, may cause infections in patients with lung disease other than cystic fibrosis.

Keywords: Burkholderia cepacia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cystic fibrosis, sputum positivity, infections