LACK OF EVIDENCE OF NOSOCOMIAL CROSS-INFECTION BY BURKHOLDERIA-CEPACIA AMONG DANISH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Burkholderia cepacia isolates from nine of the ten Danish cystic fibro sis (CF) patients known between 1975 and the present day to carry this organism were investigated. Eight distinct genotypes were found with polymerase chain reaction ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophore sis. The results indicate that there is little patient-to-patient cros s-infection with Burkholderia cepacia within the Danish CF population, even though the majority of patients attend the same CF clinic on a r egular basis.