An update on Burkholderia cepacia complex infections in a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the growing clinical significance of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), there are lacunae regarding indepth understanding of its epidemiology and management. The present study was conducted to evaluate the clinico-epidemiological profile of patients presenting with Bcc infections and antibiotic susceptibility profile of these clinical isolates.This retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching university hospital, from January' 2018 to December' 2024 and included all Bcc isolates recovered during the study period. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done using VITEK 2 compact automated system. A total of 224 Bcc isolates were included in the study. The most predominant age group was >60 years, accounting for 29.5%, and male preponderance was observed. A total of 90% isolates were from inpatients, with 56.7% being admitted to ICUs. Maximum isolates were recovered from blood (61.2%), and diabetes was the most common comorbidity observed (44.6%). Respiratory samples amounted to only 9.8% of isolates. The susceptibility rates observed for ceftazidime, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, and levofloxacin were 93%, 85.7%, 78.1%, 70%, and 60%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of clinico-epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of Bcc isolates from Rajasthan. This research could significantly inform clinical practice, optimizing treatment strategies for infections caused by this opportunistic pathogen. Since it is a difficult-to-treat emerging pathogen, regular and systematic surveillance is crucial.