PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K. De Boeck
AU  - A. Malfroot
AU  - L. Van Schil
AU  - P. Lebecque
AU  - C. Knoop
AU  - J.R.W. Govan
AU  - C. Doherty
AU  - S. Laevens
AU  - P. Vandamme
ED  - ,
TI  - Epidemiology of <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> complex colonisation in cystic fibrosis patients
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.04.00118804
DP  - 2004 Jun 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 851--856
VI  - 23
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/6/851.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/6/851.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2004 Jun 01; 23
AB  - In Belgian cystic fibrosis (CF) clinics, sputum samples are evaluated on selective MAST medium routinely every 3 months. In this study, in 1993 and 1999, isolates were further examined by recA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA restricted with SpeI. In 1993, 12 patients were colonised with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc): B. cenocepacia (n=6), B. multivorans (n=3), B. stabilis (n=3). Four patients were colonised with the same B. cenocepacia strain; two with the same B. stabilis strain. After 5 yrs, three B. cenocepacia- and one B. multivorans-colonised patients had died. In 1999, Bcc was isolated in 12 patients: B. multivorans (n=9), B. stabilis (n=1) and B. cenocepacia (n=2). Three patients were colonised by the same B. multivorans strain. Compared to matched controls, the 5 yr outcome was poor; four B. cepacia patients died and none of the control patients died. Lung-function evolution was poor. In conclusion, the rate of colonisation in Belgian cystic fibrosis patients is stable and low. Burkholderia cenocepacia was most prevalent in 1993; Burkholderia multivorans in 1999. The cross-infection rate is low. Three patients had transient colonisation. The impact of Burkholderia cepacia complex on morbidity in the Belgian cystic fibrosis population is high and not limited to Burkholderia cenocepacia. P. Vandamme is indebted to the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders for financial support.