Susceptibility of Burkholderia cepacia and other pathogens of importance in cystic fibrosis to u.v. light

To investigate the potential usefulness of u.v. germicidal irradiation (UVG I) in preventing the spread of Burkholderia cepacia, an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF), the in-vitro susceptibility of B. cepacia to UVGI was determined. Five strains were exposed to UVGI from a 7.2-W source. Burk holderia cepacia was less susceptible to UVGI than other important CF-relat ed pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but was more susceptible than Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. No strain of B. cep acia survived longer than an 8 s exposure to UVGI, with doses required to a chieve 1 log reduction in bacterial numbers ranging from 28.3 to 57.5 J m(- 2).