Burkholderia cepacia complex: origins, risks and test methods

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) isolates are causes of healthcare-associated infection, especially in relation to contamination of aqueous inhalers and some intravenously administered products. The bacterial species can cause opportunistic infections in vulnerable individuals, especially those with cystic fibrosis (CF).

The organisms can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals (especially when introduced into the air passages of a susceptible population). In the past decade, organisms that fall within the BCC grouping have been identified as potentially ‘objectionable’ within the pharmaceutical manufacturing environment; especially given the connection between such organisms and non-sterile products and the target patient population that includes the young, elderly and immunocompromised.

This article reviews the origins of Burkholderia cepacia in pharmaceutical facilities and the particular risks that it poses to patient populations. The article also considers the optimal test methods to use to screen for the organism group.

The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2018) Burkholderia cepacia complex: review of origins, risks and test methodologies, European Pharmaceutical Review, 23 (5): 30-32

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Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology