Two case reports of the successful eradication of new isolates of Burkholderia cepacia complex in children with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest life shortening, inherited disease in the Caucasian population. It is characterised by recurrent lower respiratory infections, inflammation and lung damage. Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) refers to a group of at least 17 closely related bacterial species (formerly called genomovars) that can cause pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) [1–3]. These Gram-negative organisms are inherently resistant to Colistin and can survive for prolonged periods in moist environments such as water and soil [1]. In patients with CF, new BCC infection can clear spontaneously or require eradication with a combination of antibiotics. If new infection is not cleared, chronic infection develops. Chronic BCC infection is associated with a more rapid decline in lung function [4], increased requirements for intravenous antibiotics [5], increased outpatient attendance and increased mortality [6]. Patient to patient spread of epidemic strains of Burkholderia cenocepacia (such as ET12) was identified at a number of CF centres in the early 1990’s [7]. This had a catastrophic effect on the CF population due to its association with Cepacia Syndrome. This is an acute, necrotising pneumonia with an almost universal fatal outcome [8]. The presence of Burkholderia cenocepacia remains a contraindication to lung transplantation at most CF transplantation centres due its association with poor outcomes [9]. The widespread segregation of CF clinics has been successful in reducing the overall prevalence of chronic BCC infection in the UK to 3 % [10]. It is predominantly seen in adult patients [10]. The success of segregation means that most new BCC infections are now acquired from the environment rather than from other patients [11].

Despite a wealth of knowledge on the adverse long-term effects of BCC infection, there is lack of reliable evidence on which to base management decisions for CF patients with new or chronic BCC infection [12, 13]. An in-vitro study suggest that triple-antibiotic combinations are more likely than double and single antibiotic combinations to be bactericidal against BCC [14]. Despite this, a Cochrane Systematic Review failed to identify a single randomised study investigating BCC eradication and concluded that “without further comprehensive studies it is difficult to draw conclusions about a safe and effective management strategy for BCC eradication in CF” [13]. A review of practice in UK CF Centres revealed that despite this lack of evidence, most attempt to eradicate new isolates of BCC. The treatment regimens vary widely and reported success was limited (37 %) [15]. The published evidence is limited to a few small case series. Some of these use a combination of intravenous and nebulised antibiotics [16], others use a combination of nebulised antibiotics [17] and others a single nebulised antibiotic [18]. We report two children in whom new isolates of BCC have been successfully eradicated using the same combination of intravenous (IV) and inhaled antibiotics. These are the only two cases of attempted BCC eradication at our centre in the last eight years.

We report two children with CF in whom new isolates of BCC were successfully eradicated using the same combination of intravenous and inhaled antibiotics. There is a paucity of evidence to inform practice on the eradication of BCC and we believe that these are the first two isolates successfully treated and reported in children. A Cochrane review concluded that there is “an extreme lack of evidence in this area of treatment management for people with cystic fibrosis” [13]. Although this report adds to the available evidence there is still an urgent need for multi-centre randomised controlled trials to investigate antibiotic regimens for the eradication of BCC.

The BCC isolates in these children were identified as Burkholderia cepacia and Burkholderia gladioli. The progression of Burkholderia cepacia infection and its detrimental effect on morbidity and mortality is well established [11]. The clinical significance of Burkholderia gladioli infection in patients with CF is slightly more controversial as infections can be transient and prevalence of chronic infection is relatively low [19]. However, there is evidence that if chronic infection does develop there is associated morbidity both pre and post-transplant [20, 21]. In these children we checked for spontaneous clearance by performing FB-BAL four/five weeks after the initial isolate. In both, BCC was identified in all six of the sampled lobes excluding this possibility. We were equally thorough in our assessment of the success of eradication. This included FB-BAL one month after eradication had completed in addition to regular respiratory microbiology samples during and after treatment.

In conclusion, new isolates of BCC can be eradicated in children with CF. This report identifies one possible eradication regimen using three IV antibiotics and one nebulised antibiotic. More research is required to establish which eradication regimen is the best for new isolates of BCC.

Ethical approval was not required for this article as case reports are not research. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents for publication of these case reports. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.