Major Aspects of Burkholderia gladioli and Burkholderia cepacia Infections in Children

Burkholderia cepacia infection in children without cystic fibrosis: a clinical analysis of 50 cases

Background

Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) is an emerging pathogen of nosocomial infection in pediatric patient carrying cystic fibrosis. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of B. cepacia infection remains poorly studied. This study outlined the risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility, and clinical characteristics aiming to improve the treatment of B. cepacia infection.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted based on the 50 cases infection caused by B. cepacia in children without cystic fibrosis, which were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st, 2021.

Results

A total of 50 children were infected with B. cepacia, of whom 68% had an underlying health condition, such as cardiovascular disease (23.5%), respiratory disease (17.6%), nervous system disease (14.7%), and neoplastic disease (14.7%). At the onset of B. cepacia infection, 42 (84%) pediatric patients were in an intensive care unit (ICU), 33 (66%) underwent endotracheal intubation, and 32 (64%) had a central venous catheter (CVC). In addition, hospital-acquired cases were 46 (92%), and healthcare-acquired cases were 4 (12%). The most common infectious sites of B. cepacia were the respiratory tract (68%), followed by the blood (20%), and the urinary tract (12%). It indicated that B. cepacia was the most sensitive to ceftazidime (95.65%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (88.68%), meropenem (82.98%), cefepime (77.78%), and levofloxacin (55.85%). The drug resistance rate of piperacillin-tazobactam, minocycline, aztreonam, cefoperazone-sulbactam and ceftriaxone was higher than 55%. 38 cases were cured or improved, eight had treatment terminated, and four died.

Conclusion

B. cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen normally found in immunocompromised pediatric patients and highly likely to lead to drug resistance. Nosocomial B. cepacia infections occurred mostly in patients in the ICU based on our observations. The surveillance of B. cepacia infections including changing epidemiology and increasing resistance of the microorganism is still very important. Treatment with effective antibiotics such as ceftazidime, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Clinical characteristics, drug resistance and death risk factors of Burkholderia cepacia infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Background

Burkholderia cepacia (BC) has been detected more and more in infected patients in recent years. However, as a high-risk population, the clinical characteristics and prognosis of BC infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to obtain data that will help fill in the gaps in this field, provide evidence for reducing the mortality rate of BC infection in HSCT patients, and guide the use of antibiotics in the future.

Methods

Electronic medical records of patients with BC infection who underwent HSCT in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2021 were collected. At the same time, 1:1 case–control matching was conducted according to gender, age and disease type. Comparisons between patients with/without BC infection and respiratory failure were made respectively, and the sensitivity of BC to five clinically commonly used antibiotics was also evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for death.

Results

The most common site of BC infection in HSCT patients was the lung (75%). Although BC infection rate (3.74%) and antibiotic resistance were not significant, it was closely associated with a higher risk of death (P = 0.022), which even further increased to 90.9% when combined with respiratory failure (P = 0.008). Procalcitonin > 10 µg/L (HR = 40.88, 95% CI 6.51–256.63, P = 0.000) and septic shock (HR = 4.08, 95% CI 1.02–16.33, P = 0.047) were two independent risk factors for death.

Conclusion

HSCT patients with BC infection are in critical condition, and the management of respiratory infection should be especially strengthened to improve the prognosis of these patients.