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

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.