Survival of Burkholderia cepacia on environmental surfaces

Journal

of Hospital

Infection

Survival

J. A. Drabick,*

(1996)

32, 267-276

of Burkholderia cepacia environmental surfaces

E. J. Gracely,j-

G. J. Heidecker-J:

on

and J. J. LiPuma$$l/

*Departments of Pathology, $Community and Preventive Medicine, $Pediatrics, and §MicrobiologyJImmunology, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University and $St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Received

27 September

1995;

revised

manuscript

accepted

18 December

1995

Summary:

Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia is an important pathogen amongst persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), and evidence suggests that transmission of strains within CF clinics contributes to pulmonary colonization of some patients. In order to optimize preventive strategies, the survival of B. cepacia on various environmental surfaces, including cotton cloth, stainless steel, latex and polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubing, was investigated. For surface inoculation, bacteria were suspended in phosphate buffered saline, sputum from CF patients, or sputum from persons without CF. The results demonstrate that amongst the strains examined, organisms survived significantly (P