Burkholderia dolosa

[Guest guest]

BOSTON (AP) -- Children's Hospital in Boston has begun isolating

patients carrying a rare strain of bacteria, which has been found in

the lungs of at least 20 patients with cystic fibrosis and possibly

contributed to the death of one woman.

" We're alarmed because we had only seen (Burkholderia dolosa) one

time in the past 10 years, " said Dr. Craig Gerard, chief of the

respiratory disease division at the hospital.

Burkholderia dolosa are harmless to most people, and state health

officials said other patients at Children's face no risk. However

people with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes mucus to

accumulate in their lungs, are highly susceptible to infection.

Also, Burkholderia dolosa is resistant to many antibiotics, making

it more difficult to kill.

Until recently, labs could not distinguish Burkholderia dolosa from

several related bacteria strains.

In 2001, a woman with cystic fibrosis died a few days after she

tested positive for Burkholderia dolosa, leading doctors to suspect

it played a role her death, Gerard told The Boston Globe. However

another patient has lived with the bacteria in his lungs since 1992

with no apparent ill effects, Gerard said.

The hospital launched aggressive infection control efforts about six

weeks ago when the Michigan lab that analyzes samples from cystic

fibrosis patients concluded that five Children's patients had newly

tested positive for the bacteria. That brought the number of

patients who carry Burkholderia dolosa to at least 20.

Hospital officials believe the bacteria is spread between cystic

fibrosis patients, perhaps when an infected patient coughs on an

uninfected one, so the decision was made to isolate patients who

carry Burkholderia dolosa to prevent further contamination.

Children's recently sent letters to 450 cystic fibrosis patients

explaining that those who test positive for the bacteria will be

isolated from other cystic fibrosis patients, and allowed to leave

their rooms only when escorted by staff.

The actions by Children's won praise from Dr. Alfred De Jr.,

chief of the state Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, who

said, " They seem to be doing all the right things. "

People with cystic fibrosis have a difficult battle with infections,

largely because their lungs lack the normal ability to clear mucus,

creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.