Community acquired Burkholderia cepacia sepsis in a patient with megaloblastic anemia: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is known to cause respiratory tract infections among patients with cystic fibrosis. Burkholderia infection is also seen in patients admitted in ICUs who are immunocompromised and results in lower respiratory tract infection, necrotizing pneumonia or septicemia. It is inherently resistant to many antibiotics like carboxypenicillins, polymyxin and aminoglycosides. In this case report, we present the case of a patient with Vitamin B12 deficiency who acquired Burkholderia infection from the community and presented with features of septic shock and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Patients with Bcc infection can be treated by co-trimoxazole, meropenem, ceftazidime or piperacillin-tazobactam which can be given as monotherapy or as combination therapy along with other antimicrobial agents.

Keywords

• burkholderia
• cystic fibrosis
• cepacia syndrome