title: Burkholderia cepacia in cystic fibrosis: implications for nursing practice.
abstract: Burkholderia Cepacia (B. cepacia) has emerged in the last 15 years as a dangerous pathogen among individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although this pathogen affects a relatively small percentage of the total CF population, it has had an enormous impact on the CF community because of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with it. Many CF centers have instituted stringent infection control practices in an effort to prevent the spread of this bacterium. Nurses who work with CF patients are faced with the challenge of continuing to care for patients who are B. cepacia positive, without putting unaffected individuals at risk. It is incumbent upon these nurses to educate themselves, coworkers, patients, and families about B. cepacia. Education should include the significance of colonization, transmission, treatment options, and infection control practices and interventions to deal with the psychosocial impact B. cepacia has on affected individuals and their families.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Henskens
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: VonNessen
mesh_terms: D019121:Burkholderia Infections / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000451:nursing*; D004203:Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning