Updated: Oct 14, 2008
Burkholderia cepacia is an aerobic gram-negative bacillus found in various aquatic environments. B cepacia is an organism of low virulence and is a frequent colonizer of fluids used in the hospital (eg, irrigation solutions, intravenous fluids). B cepacia rarely causes infection in healthy hosts. Based on phenotypic and genotypic analyses, B cepacia is divided into 9 genomovars that constitute the B cepacia complex (BCC).
B cepacia is almost always a colonizing bacterium rather than an infecting bacterium, but it is especially important when isolated from body fluids that are ordinarily sterile. The pathophysiology of B cepacia infection mirrors that of other nonfermentative aerobic bacilli.
B cepacia is generally not a pathogen in the ambulatory setting, but it may colonize and/or infect the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis. B cepacia may also cause catheter-related infections in patients with cancer and in those on hemodialysis. B cepacia nosocomial pneumonia has also been reported, especially in patients who have been treated with fluoroquinolones and ceftazidime antibiotics. Skin and soft-tissue infections, surgical-wound infections, and genitourinary tract infections with B cepacia have also been reported.
B cepacia is generally not a pathogen in the ambulatory setting, but it may colonize and/or infect the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis.
B cepacia recovered from blood cultures may represent infection associated with contaminated intravenous fluids (infusate-related).
Regard the recovery of B cepacia from the respiratory secretions or urine of catheterized patients as colonization until proven otherwise.
B cepacia is a common cause of catheter-associated bacteriuria in hospitalized patients. B cepacia commonly colonizes the urine and is potentially pathogenic only in individuals with impaired host defenses (eg, patients on steroids or those with diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], multiple myeloma, or cirrhosis).
B cepacia is an extremely rare cause of nosocomial pneumonia. In ventilated patients with presumed nosocomial pneumonia who have fever, pulmonary infiltrates, and leukocytosis, B cepacia cultured from respiratory secretions generally represents colonization rather than infection.
Nosocomial infections caused by B cepacia include the following:Because B cepacia is almost always a colonizer, antimicrobial treatment is unnecessary and may be harmfulunless infection is proven.
B cepacia, as a nonaeruginosa pseudomonad, is usually resistant to aminoglycosides, antipseudomonal penicillins, and antipseudomonal third-generation cephalosporins.
B cepacia is often susceptible to trimethoprim plus sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), cefepime, meropenem, minocycline, and tigecycline and has varying susceptibility to fluoroquinolones.
Empiric antimicrobial therapy must be comprehensive and should cover all likely pathogens in the context of the clinical setting.
Inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting synthesis of dihydrofolic acid. Antibacterial activity includes common urinary tract pathogens, except P aeruginosa.
160 mg TMP/800 mg SMX PO/IV q12h for 10-14 d
<2 months: Do not administer
>2 months: 15-20 mg TMP/kg/d PO tid/qid for 14 d
May increase PT when used with warfarin (perform coagulation tests and adjust dose accordingly); coadministration with dapsone may increase blood levels of both drugs; coadministration of diuretics increases incidence of thrombocytopenia purpura in elderly individuals; phenytoin levels may increase with coadministration; may potentiate effects of methotrexate in bone marrow depression; hypoglycemic response to sulfonylureas may increase with coadministration; may increase levels of zidovudine
Documented hypersensitivity; megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency
C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Discontinue at first appearance of skin rash or sign of adverse reaction; obtain CBCs frequently; discontinue therapy if significant hematologic changes occur; goiter, diuresis, and hypoglycemia may occur with sulfonamides; prolonged IV infusions or high doses may cause bone marrow depression (if signs occur, administer 5-15 mg/d leucovorin); caution in folate deficiency (eg, individuals with chronic alcoholism, elderly individuals, those receiving anticonvulsant therapy, those with malabsorption syndrome); hemolysis may occur in individuals with G-6-PD deficiency; patients with AIDS may not tolerate or respond to TMP-SMZ; caution in renal or hepatic impairment (perform urinalyses and renal function tests during therapy); administer fluids to prevent crystalluria and stone formation
Fourth-generation cephalosporin with good gram-negative coverage; similar to ceftazidime, but with better gram-positive coverage.
2 g IV q12h
50 mg/kg IV q8h
Probenecid at high doses may increase effects of cefepime; aminoglycosides increase the nephrotoxic potential of cefepime
Documented hypersensitivity
B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals
Adjust dose in patients with severe renal insufficiency (high doses may cause CNS toxicity); prolonged use may predispose patients to superinfection
A glycylcycline antibiotic that is structurally similar to tetracycline antibiotics. Inhibits bacterial protein translation by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit and blocks entry of amino-acyl tRNA molecules in ribosome A site. Indicated for complicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by E coli, E faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only), S aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), S agalactiae, S anginosus group (includes S anginosus, S intermedius, S constellatus), S pyogenes, and B fragilis.
Infuse each dose over 30-60 min
100 mg IV once, then 50 mg IV q12h
Severe hepatic impairment (ie, Child Pugh class C): 100 mg IV once, then 25 mg IV q12h
<18 years: Not established
>18 years: Administer as in adults
Coadministration decreases warfarin clearance and increases warfarin Cmax and AUC (monitor aPTT and INR); coadministration of antibiotics with oral contraceptives may decrease contraceptive effect
Documented hypersensitivity
D - Fetal risk shown in humans; use only if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Caution in severe hepatic impairment (reduce dose); may adversely effect tooth development; may permit clostridia overgrowth, resulting in antibiotic-associated colitis; may have adverse effects similar to tetracyclines (eg, photosensitivity, pseudotumor cerebri, pancreatitis, antianabolic action)
Semisynthetic carbapenem antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. Effective against most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Has slightly increased activity against gram-negative bacteria and slightly decreased activity against staphylococci and streptococci compared to imipenem.
1 g IV q8h
<10 years: Not established
>10 years: Administer as in adults
Probenecid may inhibit renal excretion of meropenem, increasing meropenem levels
Documented hypersensitivity
B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals
Pseudomembranous colitis and thrombocytopenia may occur, requiring immediate discontinuation of medication; adjust dose in patients with renal impairment
Third-generation oral cephalosporin with broad activity against gram-negative bacteria. By binding to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins, it arrests bacterial cell wall synthesis and inhibits bacterial growth.
400 mg/d PO qd or 200 mg q12h
<50 kg or <12 years: 8 mg/kg/d suspension PO qd or 4 mg/kg bid
>50 kg or >12 years: Administer as in adults
Coadministration of aminoglycosides increase nephrotoxicity; probenecid may increase effects of cefixime
Documented hypersensitivity
B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals
Adjust dose in severe renal insufficiency (high doses may cause CNS toxicity); superinfections, and promotion of non-susceptible organisms may occur with prolonged use or repeated therapy
Treats infections caused by susceptible gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, in addition to infections caused by susceptible Chlamydia, Rickettsia, and Mycoplasma. Was found to be effective in some non-tuberculotic mycobacterial infections.
100 mg PO bid for 5-7 d
<8 years: Not recommended
>8 years: 4 mg/kg PO initially, followed with 2 mg/kg q12h
Bioavailability decreases with antacids containing aluminum, calcium, magnesium, iron, or bismuth subsalicylate; can decrease effects of oral contraceptives, causing breakthrough bleeding and increased risk of pregnancy; tetracyclines can increase hypoprothrombinemic effects of anticoagulants
Documented hypersensitivity; severe hepatic dysfunction
D - Fetal risk shown in humans; use only if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Photosensitivity may occur with prolonged exposure to sunlight or tanning equipment; reduce dose in renal impairment; consider drug serum level determinations in prolonged therapy; tetracycline use during tooth development (last one-half of pregnancy through age 8 y) can cause permanent discoloration of teeth; Fanconilike syndrome may occur with outdated tetracyclines; hepatitis or lupuslike syndromes may occur
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Burkholderia infection , Burkholderia cepacia, B cepacia infection , B cepacia colonization, complex, Burkholderia cepacia complex , BCC, Burkholderia colonization, Burkholderia cepacia infection, Burkholderia cepacia colonization, nonaeruginosa pseudomonad, cystic fibrosis, Burkholderia pneumonia, Burkholderia bacteriuria, Burkholderia pseudobacteremia, Burkholderia cepacia pneumonia, B cepacia pneumonia
Burke A Cunha, MD, Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital
Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Charles S Levy, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, George Washington University School of Medicine
Charles S Levy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Medical Society of the District of Columbia
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Richard B Brown, MD, FACP, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baystate Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
Richard B Brown, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Massachusetts Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Michael Stuart Bronze, MD, Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
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