Burkholderia cepacia complex

Lisa Spacek, M.D., Ph.D.
Burkholderia cepacia complex is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Official website of the Johns Hopkins Antibiotic (ABX), HIV, Diabetes, and Psychiatry Guides, powered by Unbound Medicine. Johns Hopkins Guide App for iOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android included. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Multi-species complex of bacteria, B. cepacia complex (Bcc) with species: B. cepacia, B. cenocepacia, B. multivorans, B. stablis, B. vietnamiensis, B. dolosa, B. ambifaria, B. lata, B. pyrrocinia.
    • Known to produce secondary metabolites with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.[10]
      • Biosynthesis of antibiotics is controlled by quorum sensing, a global regulatory system that coordinates bacteria behavior, allows cell-to-cell communication, and alters gene expression according to population density.[10][15]
  • Non-fermenting, aerobic Gram-negative rod [Fig 1]. Originally described by Burkholder as a causative agent of bacterial rot of onion bulbs (Latin, cepacia = onion).[11]
    • Formerly known as Pseudomonas cepacia.
  • Waterborne, nosocomial, opportunistic pathogen. Ubiquitous in water, soil, plants.
  • Recognized as the etiologic agent of "foot rot" or "swamp rot," maceration and hyperkeratosis affecting the toe webs of American soldiers who trained in wet terrain.[6]
    • Adheres to epithelial cells and mucin; survives inside epithelial cells and macrophages; forms biofilms; secretes catalases, proteases and siderophores.[1]
    • B. cenocepacia associated with the highest risk of mortality.[12]
    • Inherently resistant to many antibiotics, including first and second-generation cephalosporins, carboxypenicillins, aminoglycosides and polymyxins.[6] Multi-drug resistance is common.[16][8]

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Multi-species complex of bacteria, B. cepacia complex (Bcc) with species: B. cepacia, B. cenocepacia, B. multivorans, B. stablis, B. vietnamiensis, B. dolosa, B. ambifaria, B. lata, B. pyrrocinia.
    • Known to produce secondary metabolites with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.[10]
      • Biosynthesis of antibiotics is controlled by quorum sensing, a global regulatory system that coordinates bacteria behavior, allows cell-to-cell communication, and alters gene expression according to population density.[10][15]
  • Non-fermenting, aerobic Gram-negative rod [Fig 1]. Originally described by Burkholder as a causative agent of bacterial rot of onion bulbs (Latin, cepacia = onion).[11]
    • Formerly known as Pseudomonas cepacia.
  • Waterborne, nosocomial, opportunistic pathogen. Ubiquitous in water, soil, plants.
  • Recognized as the etiologic agent of "foot rot" or "swamp rot," maceration and hyperkeratosis affecting the toe webs of American soldiers who trained in wet terrain.[6]
    • Adheres to epithelial cells and mucin; survives inside epithelial cells and macrophages; forms biofilms; secretes catalases, proteases and siderophores.[1]
    • B. cenocepacia associated with the highest risk of mortality.[12]
    • Inherently resistant to many antibiotics, including first and second-generation cephalosporins, carboxypenicillins, aminoglycosides and polymyxins.[6] Multi-drug resistance is common.[16][8]

There's more to see -- the rest of this entry is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: December 2, 2019