title: Burkholderia cepacia and cystic fibrosis: do natural environments present a potential hazard?
abstract: An environmental survey of 55 sites yielded only 12 Burkholderia cepacia isolates, none of which displayed the phenotypic properties of a multiresistant epidemic strain associated with pulmonary colonization in patients with cystic fibrosis. Although the environment probably poses a low risk for patients with cystic fibrosis as a source of B. cepacia, the pathogenic potential of individual environmental strains remains unclear. We advise caution in the development of B. cepacia as a biocontrol agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Govan
mesh_terms: D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012307:Risk Factors