Microbiological assessment of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) isolates in Alexandria Main University Hospital

Abstract

Nosocomial spread of B. cepacia complex (Bcc) isolates amongst non-CF patients has been documented, where inadequate laboratory identification and limited treatment options are considered the main obstacles hindering accurate diagnosis and thus proper therapeutic outcome. The present study aimed to detect the isolation percentage of Bcc from patients in Alexandria Medical University Hospital (AMUH) according to site of infection (specimen), throughout a 6 month period. Out of 2079 specimens submitted to the microbiology laboratory, 35 strains were isolated on BCSA and biochemically identified as Bcc for the first time in this laboratory. The highest rate of isolation of Bcc isolates was from pus (85.7%) isolated from patients in the burn unit. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that all Bcc isolated were Multi Drug Resistant (MDR), the highest susceptibility was to meropenem (88.5%) followed by ceftazidime (60%), tobramycin, chloramphenicol, piperacillin–tazobactam and tetracycline, while all strains were resistant to cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determining tests showed that only 11.5% were resistant to meropenem at MIC > 16 lg/ml, while 40% of the strains were resistant to ceftazidime at MIC > 32 lg/ml. Those results for the time being indicate that meropenem is the best therapeutic option for Bcc infections in AMUH.