Cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia pseudomallei infection:: An emerging problem?

We recently managed 4 patients with cystic fibrosis who had acquired Burkholderia pseudomallei infection after exposure in a region of endemicity. Person- to- person transmission between 2 siblings may have occurred; otherwise, the evidence suggests that cystic fibrosis may increase the likelihood of infection with this organism, and patients should be warned of this possibility and cautioned to avoid high- risk activities.