New Microbiol. 2026 Apr;49(1):44-49.
ABSTRACT
This study characterized the clinical distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) isolates in the Shaoxing region. A total of 303 clinical BCC isolates collected from 15 healthcare facilities during 2023 were analyzed using MALDI-TOF MS for identification and VITEK 2 COMPACT for susceptibility testing, following CLSI 2023 guidelines (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2023). B. cenocepacia (75.2%), B. multivorans (13.5%), and B. cepacia (6.9%) were the predominant species, while six isolates remained unidentified at the species level. Isolates were recovered primarily from male patients (58.1%), individuals over 65 years (70.0%), and ICU (intensive care unit) patients (59.7%). Respiratory specimens – including sputum, throat swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid – accounted for the majority of isolates (79.5%), followed by pleural/ascitic fluids and blood (11.9%), and urine (2.3%). B. cenocepacia was more prevalent in male patients (63.6%), whereas B. multivorans and B. cepacia predominantly affected females, accounting for 63.4% and 61.9% of cases, respectively (p = 0.001). Regarding age distribution, the majority of patients across all three species were over 65 years of age, with no statistically significant difference observed among the groups (p = 0.713). Significant associations were also found between species and both hospital setting (p = 0.020) and specimen type (p<0.001). All three major species exhibited high susceptibility (>90%) to ceftazidime, with no significant differences among them. In contrast, statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the susceptibility rates of B. cenocepacia compared to the other two species toward minocycline, meropenem, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These results highlight the necessity of AST (Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing)-guided therapy to optimize treatment and limit resistance development.
PMID:41969112
