[Burkholderia cepacia isolation and characterization from hospital infections]

The evolution of reanimation and functional exploration techniques has led to and explosion of nosocomial infections. They are prevailing in Intensive Care and Neonatal Units. This study deals with B. cepacia strains isolated in 1996 in a pediatric hospital of the Dakar University Hospital Center, following the installation of tracheo-bronchial exhausters which are used for obstruction removal among children. The 44 B. cepacia strains examined come from 42 blood cultures done among 29 boys and 13 girls aged between 5 days and 7 years, and from 2 exhausters. After identification by API20 NE (bio Merieux), a standard antibiogram, a 3 characters biotyping (O.N.P.G., esculin, nitrate reductase) and a study of the polymorphism of the DNA enzymatic restriction profile obtained by an pulsed field electrophoresis are performed on the isolates. The contamination come from the exhausters. All the strains produce an orange-colored yellow pigment. Only an O.N.P.G. (+), nitrate reductase (+) biotype was identified. The antibiotic susceptibility profile is almost pathognomonic for the 44 tested strains: sensitivity (100%) to ceftriaxone, to ceftazidime, to aztreonam: to contrimoxazole (96%) and to chloramphenicol (91%). Search for widen spectrum beta-lactamses and antibiotics resistance plasmids was negative. However, those strains that are multiples resistant, discharge others 8.1. isofocal point beta-lactamases. The R.F.L.P. study demonstrated a unique profile. The B. cepacia transmission is the result of the installation of medical reanimation equipment that are not well taken care of. The nosocomial infections ascertained so far are ordinary bacteremias. Strain's phenotypical and genotypical identification shows the presence of only one clone. To overcome there nosocomial infections, hygienic measures have to be reinforced.