Burkholderia gladioli sinonasal infection

Abstract

Introduction: Burkholderia gladioli are non-fermenting, Gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria that were first identified as a plant pathogen. Most of the B. gladioli infections reported in the literature have involved immunocompromised adults and newborn infants. B. gladioli in humans is often associated with a poor prognosis.

Case report: We describe the first case of sinonasal infection due to B. gladioli and Staphylococcus aureus in an immunocompetent patient who had recently travelled to the Congo.

Discussion: As in the few other reported cases involving immunocompetent patients, the appropriate approach to this multidrug-resistant B. gladioli infection was a combination of surgery and antibiotics chosen in the light of an antibiogram.

Keywords: Burkholderia gladioli; Sinonasal cultural examination; Sinonasal infections.