Abstract

The genus Burkholderia a gram negative bacteria, belonging to phylum proteobacteria inhabits soil and plants are pathogenic to humans. These include B. mallei and B. pseudomallei of the B. pseudomallei complex, which cause glanders and melioidosis, respectively. B. cepacia complex affecting cystic fibrosis patients causes “cepacia syndrome”. AIMS: To study the prevalence, risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the Burkholderia species. METHODS: This was a hospital based prospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha. Total 820 samples collected from hospitalized patients were processed for phenotypic characterisation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: Out of 820 samples, 505 (61.6%) were found to be culture positive with maximum culture positivity among pus samples 227 (91.5%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant isolate 89 (73.5%) followed by Acinetobacter baumannii 20 (16.6%) and 11(9.09%) Burkholderia spp. Prevalence of Burkholderia species was 11/820(1.34%). Diabetes mellitus was the commonest risk factor 8 (72.7%). All the isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei were sensitive to Ceftazidime, Imipenem and Amoxi-clav while Burkholderia cepacia complex were sensitive to Ceftazidime, Meropenem and Levofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Burkholderia spp can be identified by phenotypic methods but species level identification is more specific by molecular methods. It also guides the clinicians for instituting appropriate treatment which leads in reducing morbidity and mortality.

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