Survival of Burkholderia cepacia sepsis following lung transplantation in recipients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung transplant recipients infected with Burkholderia cenocepacia have a worse survival rate after lung transplantation than those who are not infected with this organism. The decreased survival is predominantly due to recurrent B. cenocepacia infection, with the majority of affected recipients succumbing within 3 months after transplant. B. cepacia complex (BCC) sepsis is one of the defining criteria for cepacia syndrome, an almost universally fatal necrotizing pneumonic illness. We report 2 CF patients who were long-term survivors of B. cenocepacia sepsis after lung transplantation. The aim of this report is to demonstrate that, although survival of B. cenocepacia sepsis after lung transplantation is extremely uncommon, with aggressive multidisciplinary management, long-term survival remains a realistic objective.