NOSOCOMIAL ACQUISITION OF BURKHOLDERIA-GLADIOLI IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Burkholderia gladioli has been reported as colonizing the airways of p atients with cystic fibrosis (CF) but has not previously been associat ed with adverse outcome. We describe six patients with CF in whom the same strain of B. gladioli, on the basis of ribotyping and biochemical characteristics, was grown in their sputum. Acquisition of this organ ism was followed by a fatal outcome in all six patients; one had a rap id decline in respiratory status and another developed fulminant B. gl adioli bacteremia. Evidence suggests that patient-to-patient transmiss ion of the organism occurred, and supports nosocomial infection in the ward and/or outpatient clinic despite general and stringent infection -control measures. This is the first report of adverse clinical outcom e following sputum colonization with B. gladioli, and the first to dem onstrate person-to-person transmission.