Abstract
During March 2016–January 2019, Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) infection developed in 13 persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Kowloon West Region, Hong Kong, China. Seven cases were infective spondylitis, 2 endocarditis, 2 septic arthritis, 1 intramuscular abscess and bacteremia, and 1 necrotizing fasciitis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that the isolates from 9 patients were clonally related. This clone caused major illness, and 11 of the 13 patients required surgical treatment. Clinicians should be aware of this pathogen and the appropriate broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs to empirically prescribe for PWID with this life-threatening infection. Close collaboration among public health authorities, outreach social workers, and methadone clinics is essential for timely prevention and control of outbreaks in the PWID population.
Highlights
During March 2016–January 2019, Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) infection developed in 13 persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Kowloon West Region, Hong Kong, China
BCC mainly causes opportunistic infection in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease, it has been detected in immunocompromised persons and persons who inject drugs (PWID) who have bacteremia, endocarditis, septic arthritis, or infective spondylitis [7,8,9,10,11]
In October 2018, the infection control officer of Caritas Medical Centre, Kowloon West Region, reported to the Centre of Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong, China, that during March 2017–September 2018, invasive infection caused by a clonal strain of BCC was diagnosed for 8 PWID
Summary
During March 2016–January 2019, Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) infection developed in 13 persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Kowloon West Region, Hong Kong, China. BCC mainly causes opportunistic infection in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease, it has been detected in immunocompromised persons and persons who inject drugs (PWID) who have bacteremia, endocarditis, septic arthritis, or infective spondylitis [7,8,9,10,11]. In October 2018, the infection control officer of Caritas Medical Centre, Kowloon West Region, reported to the Centre of Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong, China, that during March 2017–September 2018, invasive infection caused by a clonal strain of BCC was diagnosed for 8 PWID. The study protocol was approved by the Kowloon West Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee, Hospital Authority
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