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Burkholderia cepacia complex: a contraindication to lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis?

J J LiPuma1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0646, USA. jlipuma@umich.edu

Transplant Infectious Disease : an Official Journal of the Transplantation Society
|August 9, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary Burkholderia cepacia infection impacts lung transplant outcomes in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Further research is needed to differentiate the risks posed by individual species within the B. cepacia complex.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Transplantation Immunology

Background:

  • Pulmonary infection with Burkholderia cepacia is linked to adverse outcomes in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung transplant recipients.
  • Many transplant centers contraindicate lung transplantation for CF patients with B. cepacia infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential virulence and clinical impact of various species within the B. cepacia complex in CF patients.
  • To clarify whether all B. cepacia complex species pose an equal risk for lung transplant recipients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on B. cepacia complex infections in CF patients.
  • Analysis of species prevalence in CF sputum cultures.
  • Assessment of clinical outcomes data in lung transplant recipients with different B. cepacia complex species.

Main Results:

  • The B. cepacia complex comprises multiple distinct bacterial species.
  • Certain species are more commonly isolated from CF sputum than others.
  • The relative virulence and impact on lung transplant outcomes may vary among B. cepacia complex species.

Conclusions:

  • The assumption that all B. cepacia complex species carry the same risk for CF lung transplant recipients may be inaccurate.
  • Further research is essential to precisely define the risks associated with each species.
  • This understanding is critical for refining transplant eligibility criteria and management strategies.

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