Pharyngitis due to Burkholderia cepacia. Person-to-person transmission

Burkholderia cepacia is a Gram-negative bacillus that is widely distributed in nature; it is isolated from the ground, water, plants and vegetables. Generally, it produces nosocomial infection due to contamination of disinfectants, medical equipment, prosthetic material and drugs, such as anesthetic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Spain : 2003), 2004-06, Vol.60 (6), p.581-582
Main Authors: Fajardo Olivares, M, Cordero Carrasco, J L, Beteta López, A, Escobar Izquierdo, A B, Sacristán Enciso, B
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
Burkholderia cepacia - isolation & purification
Burkholderia Infections - diagnosis
Burkholderia Infections - transmission
Diseases in Twins
Humans
Immunocompetence
Infant
Male
Pharyngitis - microbiology
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Summary:Burkholderia cepacia is a Gram-negative bacillus that is widely distributed in nature; it is isolated from the ground, water, plants and vegetables. Generally, it produces nosocomial infection due to contamination of disinfectants, medical equipment, prosthetic material and drugs, such as anesthetics or liquids used in urological irrigation. The most probable mechanism of transmission is through hospital material or through fomites among people after contact for several weeks or months. Recently, it has been considered as an important pathogen in immunocompromised patients, or in those with significant underlying diseases, such as chronic granulomastosis or cystic fibrosis. We present a case of pharyngitis due to B. cepacia and its transmission within a few days in two immunocompetent twin siblings without previous underlying diseases. The infection disappeared after specific treatment for this microorganism was started. We believe that samples should be taken from the pharynx and nasal pits in patients with acute upper respiratory tract processes that do not respond to empiric antibiotic treatment, before classifying them as viral infection without etiologic diagnosis.
ISSN:1695-4033